TNAG-2236-FCO40-3215-Hong-Kong-and-China-subversion-and-student-demonstrations-1991 — Page 67

July 1991

Hong Kong Dept

FCO

Ms

Dear Department

обзых

British Embassy Tokyo

D

No 1 Ichiban-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102

Telephone: (03) 3265-5511

Telex: J22755 (A/B_PRODROME) Facsimile: (81 3) 5275 3164 Group 3

WORLD CHINESE AUTONOMOUS FEDERATION OF STUDENT UNIONS

1. I should record that a small delegation from the "Japan Chapter of the Chinese Democratic Front" called on this Embassy, without appointment, on 19 July to complain about the refusal of the Hong Kong Government to allow delegates to enter for the recent Students' Conference on China. They left behind the enclosed letter of protest.

2. The delegation claimed to be Chinese students currently studying in Japan. One of their number (I did not catch his name) said he had been present at Tiannamen. The bone of their approach was reasonable. I explained that while there was freedom of speech in Hong Kong it was not our policy to allow the territory to be used for attacks on other countries. If the purpose of the proposed visit to Hong Kong had been uncorrectly described on an application form then that would invalidate a visa.

3.

I did not lead them to expect a reply to their letter.

Yours sincerely

David Powell Рам

DH Powell Chancery

cc: Assistant Political Adviser,

Hong Kong Government