CONFIDENTIAL
85)
044440 MDHIAN 0451
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2696
OF 290455Z AUGUST 91
AND TO IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON
HKD 026/12
RECEIVED
026/12
TOP COPY
-5SEP 1991 TOP
DESK OFF 1
INDEX
DA
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
Q DIST?
183
WASHINGTON TELNO 2162 TO FCO: VISIT TO HONG KONG BY NANCY PELOSI AND BEN JONES: 31 AUGUST 2 SEPTEMBER.
1. WE UNDERSTAND FROM THE U.S. CONSULATE-GENERAL HERE THAT SHEN TONG ALREADY HAS A VISA FOR HONG KONG ISSUED RECENTLY BY THE CONSULATE IN NEW YORK. THIS WOULD SURPRISE US, AS SHEN TONG IS ON OUR WATCH LIST, WHICH NEW YORK SHOULD HAVE. BUT THE U.S. CONSULATE HAVE THIS INFORMATION FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT WHO HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH DIRECTLY WITH SHEN HIMSELF. GRATEFUL IF WASHINGTON COULD RE-CHECK WITH NEW YORK AND CONFIRM THE POSITION.
2. WE ARE CONSIDERING CAREFULLY HOW WE SHOULD HANDLE THIS VISIT.
IF SHEN TONG WERE TO COME AS PART OF THE DELEGATION AND NOT WITH A GROUP OF OTHER DISSIDENTS, IT MAY BE LESS TROUBLE TO LET HIM IN THAN KEEP HIM OUT (PARTICULARLY IF HE DOES HAVE A VALID VISA).
THE TIMING JUST BEFORE THE PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO PEKING IS
PARTICULARLY UNFORTUNATE. THE CHINESE REACTION IS UNPREDICTABLE.
HOWEVER WE SEE THAT EXCLUDING SHEN IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES COULD
WELL SUPPLY AMMUNITION TO THOSE PARTS OF THE BRITISH PRESS WHICH
ARE ALREADY CRITICAL OF THE PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO PEKING.
3. WE ARE CONCERNED TO MAINTAIN A CONSISTENT APPROACH. IF WE WERE
SURE SHEN'S OBJECTIVE IN COMING HERE WAS TO ENGAGE IN POLITICAL
ACTIVITY OF A SORT NOT IN HONG KONG'S INTEREST WE SHOULD KEEP HIM
OUT. HOWEVER, SEVERAL FACTORS ARE IMPORTANT. FIRSTLY, HE IS NOT COMING ALONE BUT AS PART OF A CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION. TO SELECT
THE ONE CHINESE FACE FROM AMONGST THE GROUP AND EXCLUDE HIM WOULD BE HARD TO JUSTIFY (THOUGH IF THE OPTION REMAINS OPEN, REFUSING A VISA WOULD BE EASIER). SECONDLY, THOUGH A NOTED DISSIDENT HE IS
NOT ON THE LIST OF 21 MOST WANTED STUDENTS AND IS LESS SENSITIVE THAN SOME OTHERS. THIRDLY, HE HAS BEEN TO HONG KONG BEFORE, IN JANUARY THIS YEAR. AT THAT TIME HE WAS NOT KNOWN TO US AND WAS
GIVEN A SEVEN-DAY TRANSIT VISA WHEN HE ARRIVED. WE NOW KNOW HE WAS FUND RAISING FOR THE DEMOCRACY FOR CHINA FUND. BUT IT WAS ONLY WHEN PRESS ARTICLES APPEARED (AFTER HIS DEPARTURE) THAT WE
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