CONRUDENTIAL
In Paul, Angkay Dep
Ниркия берг
We spoke! Isuggest a draft belegram aught follow roughly there lives.
PA
HK B 290
/1
нк
culture
633
GERMAN CULTURAL AGREEMENT
X1991
1.
It is true, as Peking say (their telno 1372) that we prefer only to conclude such agreements with countries that regard them as a prerequisite for engaging in cultural exchanges. But we are eccentric to the point of being unique in Europe in this preference; and the Germans obviously see a need to regularise the poition with Hong Kong before 1997, with unification as their excuse.
2. We think the Germans may be right. Hong Kong's networks of direct cultural contacts and links with the outside world may not survive 9 if they are not safeguarded separately by agreements. Our present agreements with China place control of cultural relations very much in the hands of governments, allowing either side to be as restrictive as it wishes about, for example, direct contacts between institutions (universities etc). They also set quotas for exchanges and scholarships in a way that effectively gives the Chinese Government control over who benefits in the case of their own citizens. Real resources, in terms of scholarships etc, formerly allocated to Hong Kong could be redeployed elsewhere almost at whim. In our own case, we should no doubt be able to safeguard Hong Kong's share, because of our acknowledged historic responsibilities; but others would not have that exuse, nor any other if they had no separate agreements to point to.
1
who?
Mle 1993 JD.
Annex LX1
FNC
A
J N Elam
Cultural Relations Department
2
12
ur
Surely this should be a
mañer for
The HKG
le 18
conclude such affeemas
they believe are necessary. Gontozan
CRDBFJ
Draft Ecoporated
intel torno.
712
Ry4/12
Misa Mardin
Mr Stone 4/12 Is costing any comments?
12
Please consider this
draft reply to HK's Menk telegram низин
4/12
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