TNAG-2026-FCO40-2888-British-Embassy--Peking-(Beijing)-involvement-in-the-externa-1990 — Page 5

CONFIDENTIAL

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PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM PAUL, HKD

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EMBASSY INVOLVEMENT IN HONG KONG'S EXTERNAL RELATIONS

1.

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WE HAVE BEEN GIVING SOME THOUGHT TO THE QUESTION OF INVOLVEMENT BY OUR EMBASSIES IN HONG KONG'S EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, PROMPTED BY A MINUTE FROM OUR EMBASSY IN ROME (WHICH WE ARE FAXING TO PS/GH) AND ENQUIRIES FROM OTHER POSTS. THIS IS BECOMING AN INCREASINGLY GREY AREA ON WHICH WE WOULD WELCOME YOUR VIEWS. THERE ARE TWO ASPECTS TO THIS: FIRST, ARRANGEMENTS FOR YOUR OVERSEAS VISITS (AND VISITS BY OTHER SENIOR MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT): AND SECONDLY THE ROLE OF THE HKETOS.

(A) YOUR VISITS

2. AS FAR AS YOUR VISITS ARE CONCERNED, WE NOTE THAT THE WAY THE PRACTICE HAS BEEN EVOLVING IS FOR THE HKETOS TO PLAY AN INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT ROLE IN ARRANGING YOUR PROGRAMMES. WE HAVE ALSO NOTED A TENDENCY FOR YOU TO OPT TO STAY IN A HOTEL OR OFFICIAL GUEST HOUSE RATHER THAN WITH THE HEAD OF MISSION PRESUMABLY IN ORDER TO EMPHASISE HONG KONG'S SEPARATE IDENTITY, PARTICULARLY IN ECONOMIC AND TRADE MATTERS. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW WHETHER YOU HAVE COME TO ANY GENERAL CONCLUSIONS ABOUT THE GROUND RULES WHICH OUGHT TO GOVERN THE PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR FUTURE VISITS. FOR EXAMPLE, DO YOU ENVISAGE THAT OUR EMBASSIES SHOULD CONTINUE TO TAKE THE LEAD IN ARRANGING CALLS ON MEMBERS OF THE HOST GOVERNMENT AND THE AMBASSADOR OR A MEMBER OF HIS STAFF TO ACCOMPANY YOU ON ALL SUCH CALLS OR SHOULD OUR EMBASSIES BEGIN TO PLAY A LOWER KEY ROLE IN FUTURE QUERY

3.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT STUART WEBB-JOHNSON HAS SUGGESTED TO THE EMBASSY IN ROME THAT IN VIEW OF HONG KONG'S AUTONOMY IN ECONOMIC AND TRADE AFFAIRS, IT WOULD NOT BE RIGHT TO EXPECT EMBASSY ASSISTANCE IN THESE AREAS. I WOULD PERSONALLY HESITATE TO PUT IT QUITE AS STARKLY AS THAT, ALTHOUGH I ENTIRELY TAKE THE POINT HE IS MAKING. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW HOW YOU SEE THIS PRINCIPLE APPLYING, FOR EXAMPLE, TO YOUR FORTHCOMING VISIT TO

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