TNAG-2349-FCO40-3418-Political-relations-between-Hong-Kong--China-and-the-Europea-1991 — Page 8

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basis, it can make the Chinese even more difficult in their dealings with us on Hong Kong. Dumas took an unexpectedly strong line on human rights during his visit to Peking, but we can, no doubt expect the French to soft-pedal if the Chinese make it worth their while commercially. We might

make a particular effort to get the Germans more engaged.

8. I should be grateful for any comments from copy

recipients.

Mox

N J Cox

ARTAFN/3

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Mr Paul

HKD

CONFIDENTIAL

FROM: R A Burns

DATE:

8 July 1991

CC:

PS/Lord Caithness

HONG KONG: INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT

1. I was interested to see FCO telno 312 to Ottawa and elsewhere seeking information about efforts by Third Countries to support Hong Kong and protect their own long term interests.

trạng hoạt

2. It occurs to me that what we need is a confidential "supporters group" ie-knowledgeable representatives of the more directly interested Third Governments, perhaps chaired by the UK, to act as a point of information exchange and support for Hong Kong over the next six years and beyond.

3. I do not know whether the Hong Kong Government themselves really do this but in any case is this not something we should take on. I suspect it might be best done in Hong Kong. Perhaps it would give a useful role to the BTC.

..

4. As a start I wonder whether we should not try to convene such a meeting ie of Consuls General in Hong Kong during the week of the Heads of Mission Conference. This might be a useful opportunity to outline our approach towards consultation with the Chinese etc in the aftermath of the MOU on the airport. It seems to me that it would be important that this exercise should be confidential so that it did not come to the ears of the Chinese. That suggests that this might be an initiative which I should kick off rather than the Minister whose movements will be subject to a great deal of press attention.

5. If we were to proceed we should perhaps need to draw up checklist of supportive actions etc which we think would be valuable and which we could then discuss with interest countries (presumably US, Canada, Australia, Japan, Singapore)..

6.

I wonder what you think.

A27AAK

та

RA Burn's

CONFIDENTIAL.