TNAG-2236-FCO40-3215-Hong-Kong-and-China-subversion-and-student-demonstrations-1991 — Page 116

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 2434

OF 011031Z AUGUST 91

HKB OGI

DIN RE

› AUG 1991

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, WASHINGTON

TOP COPY Q DIST?

(44)

144163 MDHIAN 7503

MIPT: AMERICAN DEMARCHE: TEXT

1. 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.

2. 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.

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

4. 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.

5. WE ARE ALSO CONCERNED THAT AFTER 1997 THIS PRECEDENT COULD BE

CITED BY PRC AUTHORITIES TO LEGITIMISE DEMANDS THAT THE EXERCISE OF DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS IN HONG KONG BE SUPPRESSED.

6. 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.

FORD

YYYY

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CONFIDENTIAL