TNAG-2228-FCO40-3200-Political-relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Singapore-1991 — Page 37

Momajoc

17 April 1991

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M

Stone.

today, but

her so l

Foreign & Commonwealth

Office

The faul, (HKD)

1. Miss Seetsh

unched me

spöken

I knew you had just siihen to

Kept away from

2. On &

>

all this.

I told its Lin the other might London SW1 2AH

G A Duggan Esq that it was an unfair comparison to say Chang.

Singapore

ways cheaper built on CLK. was bridge access

an

than

Chek Lap Kok.

Changi was existing airstrip (ex RAF), wherea

and regcured a totally reclamed site

•

But CLK. should by to match

Dear Gordon, Chang: in quality

HKB 020/11

19/4

Quiné

SINGAPORE POLICY TOWARDS HONG KONG

I

Many thanks for your interesting letter of 26 February. apologise for not replying to you sooner, but the last month has been somewhat occupied by the Secretary of State's visit to China and Hong Kong!

I found your account of the views of Singapore Ministers on Hong Kong very useful. Singapore has for some time played a supportive role with China over Hong Kong: Lee Kwan Yew in his day was generally willing to speak in a forthright manner to the Chinese about confidence in Hong Kong. But I think that there are good reasons to try to develop this role for Singapore at a variety of levels. Current Chinese suspicion of HMG motives means that they are more likely to listen to points about confidence from a third party. EC partners and the US are inevitably tainted with the same Western brush as ourselves in Chinese eyes. Asian states, particularly those of economic importance to China and Hong Kong such as Singapore and Japan, are much better placed and more likely to be listened to seriously by the Chinese.

If things do not improve between us and the Chinese over the next couple of years, we may want to consider encouraging the Singaporeans among others to tackle the Chinese on very specific issues. But for the moment I see considerable merit in developing a stronger Hong Kong/Singapore relationship as you suggest, keeping the Singaporeans fully briefed on Hong Kong matters and encouraging them to raise general issues such as confidence with the Chinese when possible. The first of these very much for Hong Kong Government and I should be grateful for the Governor's views.

As far as HMG is concerned, I think we should begin more actively to brief the Singaporeans for example after Joint Liaison Group meetings and following important visits in either direction (the Secretary of State's visit to China will provide a very useful first case). I suggest that we do this through our developing

VIMAEA

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