TNAG-2166-FCO40-3101-Diplomatic-representation-of-China-in-Hong-Kong-New-China-Ne-1990 — Page 6

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

CONFIDENTIAL

HKC 400/1

RECE"

21 NOV 1990

TOP COPY Q DIST?

102635 MDHIAN 9845

119/11

INC

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 3391

OF 17044OZ NOVEMBER 20

INFO PRIORITY PEKING

©

YRTELNO 2154: NCNA'S STATUS

1. YANG YOUYONG CALLED ON DPA ON 16 NOVEMBER. HE SAID HE WISHED TO STRESS ONCE AGAIN THAT IT WAS 'NOT ADVISABLE' TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME. NCNA'S VERY UNIQUE' STATUS WAS WELL- KNOWN. HE SAID NOTHING SHOULD BE DONE WHICH WOULD HAVE A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON THE ATMOSPHERE AND IMPROVING RELATIONS. IF HOWEVER WE INSISTED ON MAKING A STATEMENT, HE SUGGESTED WE DELETE THE LAST PHRASE AND ITS STAFF HAVE NEVER ENJOYED DIPLOMATIC OR CONSULAR STATUS.' (SIC)

2. WE HAVE DIFFICULTIES WITH THE FIRST SENTENCE OF THE COMPROMISE PROPOSED IN TUR. IT APPEARS TO ACCEPT THE CHINESE POSITION THAT HK IS PART OF CHINA AND THE NCNA IS CENTRAL GOVERNMENTS REPRESENTATIVE HERE. WE THEREFORE PROPOSE TO USE OUR STATEMENTS IN PARA 5 OF MY TELNO 3346, DROPPING THE LAST PHRASE (I.E. ENDING AT THE WORD CONSULATE). IN DOING THIS HOWEVER WE WILL TELL NCNA THAT IF WE ARE ASKED DIRECTLY AGAIN ABOUT WHETHER THEIR MEMBERS HAVE DIPLOMATIC STATUS, WE WILL HAVE TO ANSWER IN FACTUAL TERMS.

WILSON

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

57

.HONG KONG AGREEMENT

.(RESTRICTED)

LIMITED

HKD

HD/FED

NEWS D

DISTRIBUTION

60

PUSD

RAD

PS/LORD CAITHNESS

PS/MR LENNOX-BOYD

MR MCLAREN

MR BURNS

PAGE

1

CONFIDENTIAL