TNAG-2035-FCO40-2899-Visits-from-countries-other-than-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 64

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22 MAY 1990

NORTH ATLANTIC ASSEMBLY____ ASSEMBLÉE DE L'ATLANTIQUE NORD

BELGIQUE TELEGR: ASATLANTIC BRUXELLES

3, PLACE DU PETIT SABLON - 1000 BRUXELLES

TEL: 513.28.65

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KCMG.

TELEX 24809 AANAA B

Sir David Wilson, Governor,

HONG KONG.

Dear Si David.

26 April, 1990.

Along with Mr. Peter Corterier, secretary-general, I shall be leading a presidential party to Tawain from 20 to 27 May, and to South Korea from 28 to 31 May, at the request of their governments.

The invitations arise from common membership of the Pacific Caucus, which brings together annually parliamentary representatives of the Western Alliance, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, South Korea, Phillipines and a growing number of the Pacific rim nations. Japan and Australia have been accorded observer status at our formal gatherings, and a similar interest has been demonstrated by some of their neighbours.

Because of the work of the Pacaific Caucus, the North Atlantic Assembly is well apprised of security requirements in the Pacific theatre, and now provides formally for up-dated briefings and joint sessions with Japanese and Australian observers at its own plenaries.

In the light of recent developments in Eastern Europe and the CFe talks in Vienna where a special committee led by Senator Joseph Biden attends for formal briefings on a round-by-round basis Mr. Corterier and I are now concerned to assess their impact on China and Soviet force levels in S.E. Asia. We are particularly interested in this week's visit to Moscow by the Chinese delegation.

In consequence, we would like to include Hong Kong in our programme. We would very much appreciate, with your permission, consultation with your advisers on this question, as well as in relation to terrorism, regional conflict and ballistic missile proliferation. We would value a meeting with Commander Land Forces, and a visit to the border. Above all, if your own programme permitted it, we would welcome a brief meeting and discussion with yourself.

We plan to arrive in Hong Kong at 1730 on Thursday, 17 May, and depart for Taiwan on the following Sunday. We would gladly be at your disposal on the Friday and Saturday. We would be responsible for our own movements and accommodation, of course, and our numbers would be confined to the two of us. At a more personal level: I am a longstanding member of the Anglo-Hong Kong Group here in the House, and last visited Hong Kong in 1976, as Navy Minister.

Yours sincerely,

Shiel Woflr.