TNAG-2037-FCO40-2901-Visits-from-countries-other-than-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 48

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CONFIDENTIAL

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RECEIVE

17 NOV 1990

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY F C O

TELNO 3088

OF 23110OZ OCTOBER 90

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INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG, BTC HONG KONG INFO PRIORITY NEW DELHI

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FOR FED

YOUR TELNO 837: POSSIBLE MINISTERIAL MEETING WITH DALAI LAMA

IF THE DALAI LAMA WERE TO BE RECEIVED OFFICIALLY IN THE UK, THE DAMAGE TO HONG KONG INTERESTS AS SUCH WOULD NOT, IN MY VIEW, BE GREAT, PROVIDED THAT HMG DO NOT GO BEYOND WHAT OTHER EC COUNTRIES HAVE DONE. I WOULD ADVISE AGAINST A MEETING WITH THE FOREIGN SECRETARY AND PRIME MINISTER EITHER OF WHOM WOULD BE VERY HIGH PROFILE AND CONSEQUENTLY HIGHLY IRRITATING TO THE CHINESE.

2. THE CHINESE WILL NO DOUBT OBJECT TO ANY MEETING WITH THE DALAI LAMA. SIR A DONALD WILL BE ASSESSING THE EXTENT OF THEIR LIKELY IRRITATION AND ITS AFFECT ON RELATIONS WITH THE UK. SOME OF THIS IRRITATION COULD SPILL OVER TO AFFECT DEALINGS OVER HONG KONG. BUT I WOULD NOT ENVISAGE A SERIOUS IMPACT ON HONG KONG INTERESTS IN A MEETING WITH MR GUMMER, IN A PRIVATE AND RELIGIOUS CAPACITY, OR WITH A JUNIOR FCO MINISTER UNCONNECTED WITH CHINA, IF EITHER SEEMS NECESSARY FOR UK POLITICAL REASONS.

WILSON

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46

MINIMAL

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PS/LORD CAITHNESS

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MR MCLAREN

MR BURNS

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