TNAG-1877-FCO40-2668-Student-demonstrations-and-internal-political-situation-in-C-1989 — Page 73

HKB 020/14

HRD+D(16

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London SW1A 2AH

File

25 May 1989

episli

Dear Charles,

China:

Internal Situation:

Ryz

MIDS Manson

Mr FoogmanNo3015 Mr WordPr

W/25/

Prime Minister's Question Time

The Governor of Hong Kong has suggested that it would greatly help confidence in Hong Kong if the Prime Minister could make a brief statement on the Government's attitude to current events in China. The purpose of the statement would be to get across the fact that the Government recognise the significance for Hong Kong of developments in China and the intensity of local feeling about them; and to give an assurance that the Government remain committed to working for the preservation of the freedoms that Hong Kong currently enjoys, and which recent events in China may appear to have jeopardised. You will recall that the Prime Minister received on 23 May a telex from students of the University of Hong Kong, calling on her to speak. about events in China.

I attach a possible text for the Prime Minister's use in Questions today. If the Prime Minister agrees that this would be a good idea, it would be necessary for arrangements to be made for a suitable question to be asked.

We would of course provide briefing for supplementaries.

Yours eve

ever

Вов

(R N Peirce)

Private Secretary

C D Powell Esq

10 Downing Street