TNAG-2079-FCO40-2959-Hong-Kong-press-coverage-and-reports-1990 — Page 234

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

راد

017407

MDHIAN 0863

CONFIDENTIAL

FM PEKING

TO DESKBY 01090OZ F C O

TELNO 1114

OF 010723Z AUGUST 90

CONFIDENTIAL

[HKB301/1

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, UKREP

L

CISTRY

3 AUG 1990

Action

TOP COPY Q DIST?

G HONG KONG, BTC HONG KONG

FCO FOR HKD.

APACI

HONG KONG FOR APA

49

YOUR TELNO 1448

THE TIMES.

POSSIBLE ARTICLE BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE IN

1. WE SEE TWO MAIN DIFFICULTIES IN DRAFTING THE LETTER ANTICIPATED IN TUR :

(A) THAT IT WILL PROLONG CRITICISM IN THE BRITISH PRESS OF MR MAUDE'S VISIT AND

(B) THAT UNLESS CAREFULLY DRAFTED THE NEED TO APPEAR ROBUST TO A BRITISH AUDIENCE WILL LEAD TO THE INCLUSION OF MATERIAL WHICH WILL PROVOKE AN ADVERSE RESPONSE FROM THE CHINESE, LEADING TO ANOTHER ROUND OF MEGAPHONE DIPLOMACY.

2. WITH THESE CRITERIA IN MIND WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING SUGGESTIONS ON THE INITIAL TEXT.

PARAGRAPH 1

LINE 3-4: FOR 'TIANANMEN SQUARE'' READ 'LAST JUNE IN PEKING' (MOST DEMONSTRATORS WERE KILLED OR INJURED OUTSIDE THE SQUARE),

·

LINE 6: FOR ''TO AGREE'' READ 'IMMEDIATE AGREEMENT'' (INDEED THIS POINT COULD WELL BE EMPHASISED. IT IS FOOTLING FOR BRITISH NEWSPAPERS TO EXPECT SPECIFIC RESULTS FROM ONE MINISTERIAL VISIT AFTER SUCH A LONG INTERVAL IN MINISTERIAL VISITS IN EITHER

DIRECTION).

PARAGRAPH 2

LINE 3: AFTER ''HUMAN RIGHTS. ADD ''MR MAUDE'S VISIT PROVIDED A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO REGISTER OUR CONCERNS.''

LINE 4: DELETE ''IT WAS EASED'' AND REPHRASE THE REMAINDER TO READ

PAGE

1

CONFIDENTIAL

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