TNAG-2079-FCO40-2959-Hong-Kong-press-coverage-and-reports-1990 — Page 173

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Ms Say $2315

Ms Major

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5 SEP 1990

FROM:

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DATE:

Mr Stone 3018

23

CC:

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HLl Davies

Far Eastern Department

23 August 1990

PS/Lord Caithness

Mr Burns

Mr Paul, HKD

News Department

Mr Seaton

CHINA: MR MAUDE's INTERVIEW WITH MR ANDREW MCEWAN OF THE TIMES

1. The background to the interview referred to in Miss Cowx's letter of 20 August attached is that Mr Maude promised Mr McEwan a further interview on his return from China. At that time neither party knew that Mr Maude would have left the FCO. On his return from holiday Mr Maude asked whether The Times was still interested and the interview was set up. Lord Caithness was consulted and agreed to it (it seems that neither FED nor Under Secretaries were at that stage consulted).

2. Since News Department did not wish to sit in, Mr Maude's office agreed that I should do so. The following is a brief account of the ground covered.

3.

The interview began with an informal exchange on Iraq / Kuwait. In this connection Mr Maude said that the Chinese had been generally helpful at the UN. Eyebrows had been raised that, during his visit he had not limited his discussions to bilateral and Hong Kong issues. But one reason for engaging the Chinese in wider talks was precisely because China and the UK were both UN Security Council Permanent Members. The Chinese readiness to cooperate in New York over Iraq / Kuwait could only have been helped by the atmosphere which his visit had promoted. He did not wish to over emphasise this, but there was little doubt that it was essential not to isolate China.

4.

Mr McEwan turned the discussion to Hong Kong issues, commenting inter alia on the Chinese attack on the Nationality Bill immediately after Mr Maude's visit and asking what areas of progress had been achieved on other Hong Kong issues. Mr Maude dealt with the Nationality Bill

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