TNAG-2028-FCO40-2890-Hong-Kong-freezing-of-Kuwaiti-and-Iraqi-assets-1990 — Page 8

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HK RESIDENTS. WHILST THE CHINESE ARE CLEARLY BEHAVING IN A OPPORTUNIST WAY, WE WOULD NOT WISH TO BE SEEN TO BE CRITICISING ANYTHING WHICH MAY BE OF ASSISTANCE TO HK RESIDENTS IN DISTRESS OVERSEAS. MOREOVER, THE EFFORTS THAT THE CHINESE ARE HAVING A BENEFICIAL EFFECT ON PUBLIC ATTITUDES TO THE CPG.

6. THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE OR NO COMMENT 'COMPARING' THE EFFORTS OF BRITISH POSTS TO THEIR CHINESE COUNTERPARTS. IT IS WIDELY

APPRECIATED THAT BRITISH MISSIONS ARE IN A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT AND EXTREMELY DIFFICULT POSITION.

7. TO OUR KNOWLEDGE THERE ARE STILL 18 HK RESIDENTS TRAPPED IN KUWAIT/IRAQ.

FORD

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MAIN

16

MINIMAL

HKD

ADDITIONAL

1

HK GOVT. OFFICE LONDON

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DISTRIBUTION

17

EMERGENCY UNIT

(PASSED BY COMMCEN)