TNAG-2295-FCO40-3309-Possible-visit-by-the-Dalai-Lama-to-Hong-Kong-1991 — Page 41

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 1399

OF 070822Z MAY 91

INFO PRIORITY PEKING

&

CONFIDENTIAL

HKC026/2

©

176276 MDLIAN 8842

TOP COP Q DIST?

PEKING TELNO 617: DALAI LAMA: CHINESE DEMARCHE

р.а.

isais

1. WE HAVE CHECKED WITH OUR CONTACT TO SEE WHETHER THE CHINESE DEMARCHE REPORTED IN TUR WAS SPARKED BY ANYTHING SPECIFIC. BUT THE POSITION REMAINS AS REPORTED IN MY TELNO 965: .I.E. THAT THE DALAI LAMA'S PROGRAMME WILL PROBABLY NOT ENABLE HIM TO VISIT HONG KONG UNTIL LATE 1992 OR EARLY 1993 AT THE EARLIEST. THERE IS ALWAYS THE POSSIBILITY THAT A GAP MIGHT OPEN UP IN HIS PROGRAMME, BUT HIS LOCAL SUPPORTERS ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY SPECIFIC PLANS AT PRESENT.

2. I AGREE WITH THE LINE DEPLOYED BY COATES IN RESPONSE TO THE DEMARCHE. IF YOU SEE NO OBJECTION, I SUGGEST THAT HE SHOULD NOW CONFIRM IT AS AN OFFICIAL RESPONSE, ADDING THAT WE ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY PRESENT PLANS FOR THE DALAI LAMA TO VISIT HONG KONG. BUT I WOULD PREFER COATES NOT/NOT TO GIVE ANY UNDERTAKING TO THE CHINESE ABOUT WHAT WE WOULD DO IF WE WERE TO RECEIVE AN APPLICATION FOR A VISA FROM THE DALAI LAMA. I CONTINUE TO TAKE THE VIEW THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO REFUSE PERMISSION TO THE DALAI LAMA TO COME HERE IF HE APPLIED. BUT I SEE NO REASON TO MAKE THE FORMAL FORWARD COMMITMENT TO THE CHINESE ON THIS OR ANY OTHER VISA CASE. IN ADDITION, I IMAGINE THAT IF THE CHINESE PUBLICISED SUCH A COMMITMENT, OR YOU HAD A PQ ON THE SUBJECT, IT COULD CAUSE CONSIDERABLE POLITICAL EMBARRASSMENT IN LONDON.

WILSON

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