CONFIDENTIAL
Mr. Com Mr Stone Mr Formers,
ра
From:
Sir John Coles
Date:
7 May 1991
CC:
PS
MAB ada
PS/Lord Caithness PS/Mr Lennox Boyd PS/PUS
Mr Beamish
Mr Burns
HKD
18/5
FED
SEAD
Mr Burns, NAD
THE NEW US AMBASSADOR
1.
2.
Mr Ray Seitz paid his opening call on me today.
I said that the PUS had particularly asked me to emphasise, following their discussion earlier in the day of priorities in foreign policy, that Mr Seitz should not be misled by the fact that they had not had time to discuss Hong Kong. This was a subject which could well take up as much Ministers' time in the next few years as almost any other single subject.
•·
2
I told Mr Seitz that we had three current Hong Kong concerns: the airport negotiations, the Vietnamese boat people, and the implications for Hong Kong of the US decision on renewal of MFN status for China.
4. I described briefly the state of the airport negotiations and the Chinese attempt to assert something close to a right of veto on major issues affecting Hong Kong's future. We hoped, but were not certain, that if and when negotiations continued we should be able to solve the various questions. We should welcome continuing US indications to the Chinese of the importance the Americans attached to a stable and prosperous Hong Kong.
5. Mr Seitz was familiar with the Vietnamese boat people issue from his time in Wahsington. I said we were approaching a further critical phase. I had just read a report from the Governor to the effect that today 378 VBPs had reached Hong Kong the largest daily figure since the massive influx of 1989. Clearly, the CPA in its present form was not working quickly or effectively enough and new measures would be needed. We wanted to work co-operatively with the US Government and Mr Kimmitt had indicated that he would ensure that the dialogue would be pursued on his return from his current visit to the Far East. Mr Seitz said that at an earlier stage there had been disagreement between us about figures. He thought it would be very helpful if the Embassy in Washington could ensure that the
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CONFIDENTIAL
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