TNAG-2604-FCO40-3792-Detention-of-Hong-Kong-residents-in-China-1992 — Page 30

FROM:

PS

TO:

PS/NO 10

PROPOSED VISIT TO HONG KONG AND CHINA BY A DELEGATION

FROM THE 'INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY OF THE

DEMOCRATIC AND LABOUR MOVEMENT AGAINST REPRESSION IN

CHINA'

х

In view of the exchange of correspondence between the

Prime Minister and Mr Robert Parry MP last autumn about

human rights in China you may like to be aware of the

recent exchange of letters between Mr Parry and Alastair Goodlad (copies enclosed).

The Governor advised that considerable embarrassment

would be caused by the visit. If the delegation were

allowed to hold a meeting in Hong Kong about political

prisoners in China it would be seized upon by the Chinese

as a classic example of Hong Kong being used as a "base

for subversion" against China. Rather than putting this

message in writing Mr Goodlad tried to speak to Mr Parry

on the telephone but he had already left the country.

As Mr Goodlad's letter makes clear, immigration issues are for the Hong Kong Government. Technically, anybody

can be refused permission to land but the Governor

recognises that it would be politically unwise to do this

to European MPs.

MP3ADP

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