TNAG-2355-FCO40-3426-Visit-by-Douglas-Hurd--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Co-1991 — Page 56

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 28090OZ FCO

TELNO 967

OF 280726Z MARCH 91

Mr

HKD 026/9

Pa Majn

ga.

033365

MDHIAN 9991

2/4

(65)

PERSONAL FOR PAUL, HKD FROM GOVERNOR.

MY TELEGRAM NO. 891: SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO HONG KONG: MEETINGS WITH EXCO AND OMELCO.

1. I UNDERSTAND FROM LYDIA DUNN THAT NON OFFICIAL MEMBERS OF EXCO WILL WISH TO CONCENTRATE, DURING THEIR MEETING WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE, ON THE AIRPORT, RELATIONS WITH CHINA AND THE PROBLEMS AHEAD IN THE NEXT SIX YEARS. THIS IS SENSIBLE. THEY ARE THE KEY ISSUES. IF TIME PERMITS, THEY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A QUICK REFERENCE TO THE IMPORTANCE OF MFN AND GATT RENEWALS AND TO THE NEED TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM OF VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS. THE

QUESTION OF RECOGNITION OF OMELCO WILL UNDOUBTEDLY COME UP IN CONNECTION WITH HONG KONG'S OVERALL RELATIONS WITH CHINA.

2. I HAVE ENCOURAGED MEMBERS OF EXCO TO AVOID SET-PIECE PRESENTATIONS AND WILL AIM FOR GENUINE DISCUSSION OF EACH ITEM.

3. THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS ARE LIKELY TO COME UP DURING THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S MEETING WITH OMELCO ON 3 APRIL:

(A) POLITICAL REFORM: THE POSSIBILITY OF REVIEW IN 1955.

(B) RELATIONS WITH CHINA: THE AIRPORT: SECURITY, LAW AND ORDER AND SMUGGLING: RECOGNITION OF OMELCO: AND PROGRESS OF THE JLG.

(C) NATIONALITY: PROGRESS ON THIRD COUNTRY ASSISTANCE: AND THE

KEY EMPLOYEES SCHEME.

(D) VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS.

(E) MFN AND GATT RENEWAL.

NOT ALL MEMBERS WERE ABLE TO ATTEND THE MEETING AT WHICH THESE

SUBJECTS WERE AGREED. SO OTHER ISSUES MAY COME UP ON THE DAY.

4. THE FORMAT FOR THE OMELCO MEETING WILL BE THAT LADY DUNN WILL

PAGE

1

CONFIDENTIAL