TNAG-2362-FCO40-3433-Visit-by-John-Major--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Hong-Kong--Septem-1991 — Page 82

CONFIDENTIAL

073163

M IAN 1621

HIS MEETING WITH BALTIC LEADERS DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE PARTIALLY-AUDIBLE ENGLISH COMMENTARY CLEARLY BEGAN MIDWAY THROUGH A REFERENCE TO THAT MEETING.

4.

THERE WAS NO REFERENCE TO HUMAN RIGHTS, NOT EVEN IN THE ACCOUNTS OF COR CLIPS SHOWN FROM) THE PRIME MINISTER'S PRESS CONFERENCE. THE PRIME MINISTER WAS QUOTED AS PERSONALLY ATTACHING IMPORTANCE TO THE COMPLETE (SHIFEN) RESTORATION OF RELATIONS WITH CHINA. THE PRIME MINISTER WAS ALSO QUOTED AS SAYING AT HIS PRESS CONFERENCE THAT HE HOPED THAT HIS VISIT WOULD HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON CHINA'S RELATIONS WITH THE WEST.

5. THERE WERE SEVERAL PASSING REFERENCES TO DIFFICULTIES HAVING OCCURRED RECENTLY IN BILATERAL RELATIONS. MORE MIGHT OCCUR IN THE FUTURE BUT THESE SHOULD BE SOLUBLE THROUGH THE MECHANISMS FOR CONSULTATION NOW ESTABLISHED. THE GENERAL TENOR OF THE TELEVISION, RADIO AND PRESS COVERAGE WAS POSITIVE. THE VISIT HAS BEEN PRESENTED AS A SUCCESS, WITH BOTH THE PRIME MINISTER'S AND LI PENG'S REMARKS TO THAT EFFECT WIDELY QUOTED.

MCLAREN.

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

76

PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO

(CHINA AND HONG KONG)

LIMITED

FED

PUSD

HKD

NEWS D

PLANNERS

ADDITIONAL

2

PS/PM

~~~~

DISTRIBUTION

78

PAGE

PROTOCOL D

RAD

PS

PS/LORD CAITHNESS

PS/PUS

SIR J COLES

MR BURNS

SIR P CRADOCK NO.10

2

CONFIDENTIAL