TNAG-2231-FCO40-3203-Visits-by-David-Wilson--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--to-the-UK-and-1991 — Page 14

Page

CONFIDENTIAL

2

-

(c)

(d)

said that he

was

reasonably

Evans Senator hopeful that the meeting in Jakarta (2-4 June) would make some

issue.

Commitments

progress on the

on de-mobilization of genocide would

Cambodian

and be a key.

non-recurrence

to

it

The UK

He had The

The UN Secretariat was tentatively exploring the possibility of guaranteeing intervention if the Khmer Rouge started fighting again. The recent Gulf precedence would help. and US were interested in the idea. Senator Evans said that China gave the impression of wanting

get out of the situation. pushed

pretty hard with Qian Qichen. Governor said that these were helpful developments but timing was now very tight for Hong Kong. Senator Evans said that if the Jakarta meeting made progress a full meeting in Paris could be re-convened very quickly. The Governor said that on a smaller scale Hong Kong was taking a more helpful approach to Vietnam e.g. on air services.

Senator Evans

7

said that

his during

recent

visit to China he had emphasized Australia's significant business

in presence

Hong Kong. He had received the impression that China's position on the financing of Hong Kong's new airport was negotiable but it wanted as much say in Hong Kong affairs as it could get away with. The Governor thanked Senator Evans for He raising Hong Kong issues with the Chinese. said that talks with the Chinese would resume on 18 May. He was not optimistic about the

outcome.

(e)

Senator

Evans

said that

had he

not

been impressed by his meeting with Li Peng who had lectured him for 35 minutes on various issues.

Senator Evans had responded by raising human rights issues, Tibet, religious and political dissent and torture. Li Peng had responded that he did not wish to poison the atmosphere of the discussion by going into detail.

Senator Evans said that he had been disappointed by Jiang Zemin who had stuck very closely to his brief and performed like a puppet.

(£) The Governor thanked Senator Evans for all the

arrangements made for his visit to Australia.

(Christopher I C Jackson)

DPS/GH

21.5.91

CONFIDENTIAL