TNAG-2295-FCO40-3309-Possible-visit-by-the-Dalai-Lama-to-Hong-Kong-1991 — Page 51

SECRET

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE F CO

TELNO 965

OF 27105OZ MARCH 91

SECRET

Ken nim Show make up

a neur file.

In one Cilen? or

fr$15,

file.

(1)

034337

MDHIAN 0056

TOP COPY Q DIST?

INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG HK 0208

PERSONAL FOR PAUL, HKD, FROM EHRMAN PEKING PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR UKREP JLG PERSONAL FOR GALSWORTHY

POSSIBLE VISIT TO HONG KONG BY DALAI LAMA

1.

DE 'FIV

19 APR 1991

INDEX

FICER

PA

FLY

ken

IT APPEARS THAT NCNA THINK THE

DALAI LAMA MAY SOON WISH TO VISIT HONG KONG. THEY HAVE RECOMMENDED THAT THE CHINESE TAKE THIS UP WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE DURING HIS VISIT.

2.

THE FACTS ARE AS FOLLOWS. THE HONG KONG BUDDHIST YOUTH CENTRE HAS ISSUED AN INVITATION TO THE DALAI LAMA TO VISIT HONG KONG. HIS SECRETARY HAS REPLIED THAT WHILE THE DALAI LAMA ACCEPTS IN PRINCIPLE, IT MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE FOR HIM TO VISIT BEFORE 1992. THE DALAI LAMA'S SECRETARY SEPARATELY WROTE TO THE HEAD OF THE ASIA-PACIFIC FORUM FOR TIBET IN HONG KONG, ON THE SAME DAY THAT HE SENT HIS LETTER TO THE BUDDHIST YOUTH CENTRE, TO SAY THAT THE DALAI LAMA WAS IN FACT NOT THINKING OF VISITING HONG KONG UNTIL 1993.

3. IF THE CHINESE RAISE THE MATTER WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE, HE MIGHT SIMPLY SAY THAT WE KNOW OF NO SPECIFIC PLANS FOR A VISIT BY THE DALAI LAMA. AS WE HAVE EXPLAINED PREVIOUSLY, WE ARE HOPING TO PERSUADE THE BUDDHISTS HERE NOT TO PURSUE THEIR INVITATION ANY FURTHER. BUT IF THIS FAILS AND THE DALAI LAMA DOES AT SOME FUTURE DATE APPLY FOR A VISA TO VISIT HONG KONG, WE WOULD INTEND TO REFUSE IT.

WILSON

YYYY

THIS IS A COPY

THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN RETAINED IN THE DEPARTMENT UNDER

SECTION 3 (4) OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT 1958

pa

PAGE

SECRET

1