CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 2379
OF 271705Z NOVEMBER 89
AND TO IMMEDIATE BTC HONG KONG
INFO PRIORITY UKREP JLG HONG KONG
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM PAUL, HKD
THE HONG KONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
TOP C Q DIST
135
041773
MDHOAN 8497
HKB
026 120
1. MR HELMUT SOHMEN OF THE HONG KONG GENERAL
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS WRITTEN TO THE
SECRETARY OF STATE TO ASK IF IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR HIM TO SPEAK AT A LUNCHEON ORGANISED BY THE CHAMBER DURING HIS FORTHCOMING VISIT TO HONG KONG. THEY HAVE SUGGESTED THE THEME
QUOTE BRITAIN'S ROLE IN IMPLEMENTING THE PROVISION OF THE
SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION UNQUOTE. BUT THEY HAVE EMPHASISED THAT THEY WOULD NOT OBJECT SHOULD THE SECRETARY OF STATE PREFER TO ADDRESS ON AN ALTERNATIVE SUBJECT.
2.
THE INVITATION WOULD PROVIDE THE SECRETARY OF STATE WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO DELIVER WHAT WOULD HOPEFULLY BE A POWERFUL AND REASSURING MESSAGE TO HONG KONG ABOUT BRITAIN'S INTENTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY. WE THEREFORE SEE SOME MERIT IN THE IDEA. ON THE OTHER HAND, WE WOULD NOT WANT THIS TO CONFLICT WITH ANY OTHER PLANS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR ADVICE AND THAT OF PETER HEAP ON HOW WE SHOULD REPLY TO SOHMEN.
3.
HURD
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
15
LIMITED
HKD
NNNN
DISTRIBUTION
15
MR MCLAREN
PAGE
1
CONFIDENTIAL
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