TNAG-2168-FCO40-3105-House-of-Commons-Foreign-Affairs-Committee-inquiry-into-Hong-1990 — Page 38

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CONFIDENTIAL

FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE: MR MAUDE'S EVIDENCE ON HONG KONG,

11 JULY

A.

CONTACTS WITH THE CHINESE OVER HONG KONG: MR MAUDE'S

VISIT TO CHINA

Objectives

Purpose

- To explain that visit is a further step in pursuance of

our aim of rebuilding good working relations with China over

Hong Kong.

- To confirm that while main purpose of visit is to discuss Hong Kong issues, discussions will also cover other issues

of common concern.

Policy on Ministerial contact with China

-

To make clear to the Committee that visit does not

represent abrupt change of policy and that there have been other high level contacts with Chinese, including Mr Major's

two meetings with Chinese Foreign Minister and Sir P

Cradock's visit to Peking.

- To emphasise that partners have always shown understanding

our our special need to maintain such high level contacts

with China over Hong Kong and that these are not in breach

of Madrid Declaration.

- To inform Committee that we now intend to begin a more

regular series of contacts than events of 1989 permitted.

MADAGI

CONFIDENTIAL