TNAG-2236-FCO40-3215-Hong-Kong-and-China-subversion-and-student-demonstrations-1991 — Page 111

CONFIDENTIAL

/1

(47)

Demarke made by Av Burrows, us Embany.

today.

HKE OGI

- 8 AUG 1991

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT DECISION

TO BAR CHINESE STUDENT ACTIVISTS

Ter to HIC

ра

m

نند/2

WE WISH TO RESPOND TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO BAR ENTRY INTO THE TERRITORY BY CHINESE STUDENT ACTIVISTS SEEKING TO ATTEND THE SECOND ANNUAL DELEGATES' CONFERENCE OF THE GLOBAL FEDERATION OF CHINESE STUDENT ASSOCIATIONS, HELD FROM JULY 16-18.

WE APPRECIATE THE DELICATE TASK WHICH THE BRITISH AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENTS HAVE IN DEALING WITH CHINA, AND ARE PLEASED THAT YOU REBUFFED CHINESE DEMANDS THAT THE CONFERENCE ITSELF BE CANCELLED.

HOWEVER, WE ARE DEEPLY DISTURBED BY THE DECISION TO BAR ENTRY BY NON-HONG KONG RESIDENTS WHO WISHED TO ATTEND THE CONFERENCE.

WE ARE CONCERNED THAT BARRING THESE PERSONS' ENTRY WILL SET A PRECEDENT UNDER WHICH CONTACTS WITH OUTSIDERS ON CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECTS ARE VIEWED AS ILLEGITIMATE AND A PUBLIC MENACE WHICH MUST BE CONTROLLED.

WE ARE ALSO CONCERNED THAT AFTER 1997 THIS PRECEDENT COULD BE CITED BY PRC AUTHORITIES TO LEGITIMIZE DEMANDS THAT THE EXERCISE OF DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS IN HONG KONG BE SUPPRESSED.

WE FURTHER NOTE THAT ACTIONS OF THIS SORT MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT THE PUBLIC DEBATE HERE ON POLICIES IMPORTANT TO HONG KONG, LIKE UNCONDITIONAL MFN FOR CHINA, AND UNDERCUT THE STRONG SUPPORT WE WOULD LIKE TO BUILD FOR THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IN THE YEARS BEFORE REVERSION.

CONFIDENTIAL