TNAG-1879-FCO40-2670-Student-demonstrations-and-internal-political-situation-in-C-1989 — Page 103

C Lord Glenarthur are also to be invited to attend, although so far

we have received the formal invitation for Lord Glenarthur only.

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4.

The principal organisers of the meeting are the Association of Chinese Students and Scholars in the UK, and Hong Kong Link. The

Association is the largest of the Chinese student community groups. Although it has quasi official status in that it was set up with the encouragement of the Chinese Embassy it has criticised the action of the Peking authorities in suppression of demonstrations in Peking. Following a request from another Chinese student group

to meet the Prime Minister, we concluded that the Association was the most representative Chinese student group and should be offered

a call on the Prime Minister.

5. Hong Kong Link is an organisation representing Hong Kong

students and young Hong Kong professionals working in the UK. It has been active politically and is in contact with a number of MPs

on Hong Kong-related issues. The other organisations concerned

with the memorial service are the National Union of Students and

the June the Fourth China Support Group, an ad hoc group offering,

inter alia, support to Chinese students in the UK. The organisers

have invited the leaders of the main opposition parties, Members of

Parliament, trade unionists, and the Archbishop of Canterbury. We

do not yet know which of these organisations will in fact be

represented. We understand that the Archbishop of Canterbury is to

be represented, but will not attend personally. We understand that

Prime Minister Hawke has also been invited, and he is to send a

message to the meeting, but not attend.

Argument

6. The amount of public and parliamentary interest recent events

in China has attracted seems likely to mean that this service will

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