CONFIDENTIAL
1222
012344
MDHIAN 7263
CONFIDENTIAL
FM PARIS
TO DESKBY 18150OZ FCO
TELNO 447
OF 181354Z APRIL 90
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG
Hip 340/1 нко
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
02 MAY 1990
DESK OFFICE).
ΡΑ
Action Taken
TELECON MORRIS/HOC: FRENCH SUPPORT FOR HONG KONG CHINESEY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE
1. IF MR MAUDE IS ASKED ABOUT THE FRENCH POSITION IN TERMS, HE MIGHT USE THE FOLLOWING FORM OF WORDS: QUOTE WE HAVE BEEN IN REGULAR TOUCH WITH THE FRENCH ON THIS SUBJECT. THEY HAVE HELPFULLY INDICATED THAT, ALONG WITH OTHER COUNTRIES, THEY ARE TAKING MEASURES TO REASSURE ESSENTIAL STAFF WORKING FOR INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES IN HONG KONG. WE ARE NOT AWARE THAT ANY FRENCH SCHEME IS FINALISED, AND IT WILL BE FOR THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT TO MAKE ITS DETAILS PUBLIC AS THEY JUDGE APPROPRIATE. AS TO THE NUMBER OF HONG KONG CHINESE AFFECTED BY SUCH A SCHEME, THERE HAS BEEN PRESS SPECULATION THAT THIS MAY BE IN THE REGION OF 1000-1500. BUT OBVIOUSLY THIS WILL DEPEND ON THE PRECISE MEASURES, AND WOULD BE FOR THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT TO MAKE PUBLIC. UNQUOTE.
2. I HOPE THIS MAY GO SOME WAY TO RECONCILING THE DICHOTOMY BETWEEN WHAT REPORTEDLY EMERGED FROM OFFICIAL FRENCH SOURCES AND WHAT FROM NEWSPAPER SPECULATION THAT CAME UP IN MR MAUDE'S HONG KONG PRESS CONFERENCE OF 11 APRIL. IT GOES A LITTLE FARTHER THAN THE LINE GIVEN TO ME BY MARTIN, THE QUAI DIRECTOR FOR ASIA COUR TEL 346 TO YOU, ALSO REFLECTED IN OUR TEL 414). BUT I THINK THE FRENCH WOULD ACCEPT IT AS FAIR. I DO NOT WANT TO GO BACK TO THE QUAI AT THIS STAGE SINCE THE DANGER IS THAT THEY WILL MOVE BACKWARDS FROM THEIR PREVIOUS POSITION RATHER THAN FORWARDS, IF THEY SENSE THAT THE QUESTION IS OF POLITICAL SENSITIVITY AND, AS I SUSPECT TO BE THE CASE, THEY HAVE NOT YET FINALISED THEIR POSITION.
LLEWELLYN SMITH
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