TNAG-2512-FCO40-3665-Future-of-Hong-Kong-International-Rights-and-Obligations-(IR-1992 — Page 183

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BALANCED VIEW. CANN CLWYD HAS NEVERTHELESS BEEN DIFFICULT OVER OTHER FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES, INCLUDING CAMBODIA AND INDONESIA).

5. DATES: FROM SIR G HOWE'S VIEWPOINT THE BEST OF THE THREE PERIODS PREVIOUSLY CONSIDERED WOULD BE 11- 23 NOVEMBER. BEING THE LONGEST, THIS WOULD ALLOW MOST SCOPE FOR A SUBSTANTIVE VISIT, INCLUDING TIBET IF IT WERE DECIDED TO GO THERE (SEE PARA 7 BELOW). EVEN IF THE PARTY CONGRESS WERE IN SESSION AT THAT TIME, WE IMAGINE THAT NEVERTHELESS, GIVEN HIS EMINENCE, SIR G HOWE COULD STILL EXPECT APPROPRIATE MEETINGS WITH SENIOR CHINESE. IT WAS AGREED THAT WE COLD NOT MAKE THE DATES DEPENDENT ON THE PARTY CONGRESS SINCE THIS WOULD NOT BE FIXED FOR SOME TIME.

6. ITINERARY: NO DETAILED DISCUSSION, EXCEPT ABOUT WHETHER IT WAS WISE TO TRANSIT HONG KONG AT ALL EITHER ON THE WAY IN OR OUT. THERE IS A RISK THAT ANY STOPOVER IN HONG KONG WOULD ALLOW THE PRESS TO MAKE DISOBLIGING COMMENT ABOUT THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION ON THE MAINLAND AND READ ACROSS FROM THAT TO HMG'S QUOTE SELL-OUT UNQUOTE OF HONG KONG. SIR G HOWE FEELS HOWEVER THAT IF HE WERE TO GO IN AND OUT OF CHINA WITHOUT PASSING HONG KONG, THIS COULD BE EQUALLY IF NOT MORE DAMAGING. HE WOULD BE ACCUSED OF AVOIDING THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WHO HAD A LEGITIMATE INTEREST IN THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN CHINA. ON BALANCE THEREFORE HE WOULD PREFER TO ENTER CHINA VIA HONG KONG, THOUGH HE WOULD PLAN TO RETURN DIRECT TO UK AFTER THE VISIT. HE ACCEPTS THAT THIS QUESTION NEEDS FURTHER THOUGHT. HE WILL BE IN JAPAN IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO 11 NOVEMBER AND WOULD THEREFORE FIND IT CONVENIENT TO MEET UP WITH HIS DELEGATION IN HONG KONG BEFORE PROCEEDING.

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TIBET: INCONCLUSIVE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE PROS AND CONS OF INCLUDING TIBET. SIR G HOWE WONDERED ABOUT XINJIANG AS AN ALTERNATIVE, IF TIBET WERE TOO SENSITIVE. OUR REACTION WAS THAT XINJIANG WAS CURRENTLY LIKELY TO BE MORE NOT LESS SENSITIVE AND THAT THE CHINESE WERE NOW USED TO MANAGING VISITS OF THIS NATURE TO TIBET. BUT THERE WERE RISKS IN INCLUDING TIBET. IT MIGHT THEREFORE BE PREFERABLE ON THIS VISIT TO CONCENTRATE ON DISCUSSING TIBET (INTER ALIA) WITH EG THE STATE COMMISSION ON NATIONAL MINORITIES, HOLDING OUT FOR A VISIT TO TIBET BY A SECOND DELEGATION LATER.

8. NEXT STEPS: IT WAS AGREED THAT THE DEPARTMENT WOULD NOW SUBMIT TO PRIVATE OFFICE A DRAFT LETTER TO NO 10 PULLING TOGETHER THE THREADS. WE SHALL SHOW THIS IN ADVANCE TO SIR G HOWE AND TO

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