RESTRICTED
80
045647 MDHIAN 9911
RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
TELNO 76
OF 211048Z SEPTEMBER 92
INFO IMMEDIATE FCO, BTC HONG KONG
TOP COPY Q DIST?
HKC 175/1
FOLLOWING FOR AMBASSADOR FROM ACTING POLITICAL ADVISER.
(19)
YOUR TELNO 112: P AND O SHIP NAMING CEREMONY IN HONG KONG: 10 NOVEMBER.
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1. THIS HAS BEEN HANDLED BY THE GOVERNOR'S PRIVATE OFFICE, BUT WE WERE CONSULTED AS TO WHETHER THERE WERE ANY SENIOR CHINESE OFFICIALS WHOM THE GOVERNOR MIGHT WISH TO HAVE A CHANCE TO MEET 'IN AN INFORMAL CONTEXT'. BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, P AND O ARE INVITING SENIOR POLITICIANS AND OFFICIALS FROM A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES IN THE REGION. THE SUGGESTIONS WE PUT FORWARD CONSISTED OF PEOPLE TO WHOM WE HAVE ALREADY ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION CONVEYED INVITATIONS TO VISIT HONG KONG. THE FOUR VICE PREMIERS IN PARTICULAR WE HAVE FOR SOME TIME BEEN TRYING TO PERSUADE TO COME HERE AS PART OF OUR CAMPAIGN TO INCREASE UNDERSTANDING OF HONG KONG IN THE UPPER REACHES OF THE CPG.
2. IN FACT, BOTH TIAN JIYUN AND ZHU RONGJI HAVE BEEN THROUGH HONG KONG RECENTLY. WE EXTENDED AN INVITATION TO BOTH FROM THE GOVERNOR, BUT WERE FOBBED OFF WITH EXCUSES IN BOTH CASES. ON THE OTHER HAND WE HAVE HAD NO LESS THAN NINE PROVINCIAL GOVERNORS IN HONG KONG THIS YEAR, ALL OF WHOM HAVE CALLED ON THE GOVERNOR. IT SEEMS OBVIOUS THAT THE CHINESE ARE REFUSING US THE FACE OF A MEETING WITH ANYONE OF VICE PREMIER RANK. NEVERTHELESS, IT SEEMS WORTH TRYING ANY MEANS WE CAN TO SIGNAL THAT THE WELCOME MAT REMAINS LAID OUT.
3. I AM SURE YOU ARE RIGHT THAT THE LIKELIHOOD OF ANY OF THE FOUR VICE PREMIERS ACCEPTING IS EXTREMELY SMALL. HOWEVER, I HOPE YOU DO NOT THINK ANY HARM WILL BE DONE BY THESE INVITATIONS. EVEN IF THE RECIPIENTS ARE A LITTLE PUZZLED, SURELY THEY CANNOT HELP BUT GET THE MESSAGE THAT THEY WOULD BE WELCOME BOTH TO COME HERE AND TO TAKE AN INTEREST IN HONG KONG. PERHAPS IN DELIVERING THE INVITATIONS YOU MIGHT SAY A FEW WORDS ALONG THESE LINES? EVEN IF THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO COME ON THIS OCCASION, THE GOVERNOR WOULD BE VERY HAPPY TO SEE THEM AT SOME OTHER TIME, ETC. OUR MOTIVES
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