CONFIDENTIAL
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.
4.
The Governor suggests that we should try, if possible, to dissuade the organisers from using Hong Kong as the platform for their activities. But he acknowledges that
they are unlikely to be dissuaded, and that if they persist with their plans, there is a limit to what the Hong Kong Government can do to stop them. Technically, anybody can be refused permission to land but it would be politically unwise to do this to European MPs.
As
There is also the factor that the Prime Minister quoted from a letter from Mr Parry in Peking last September.
5.
Mr Parry notes in his latest missive, he advised the Prime Minister "that I would be going out this year and he
asked me to let him know what success we had".
6•
On the other hand, the Chinese are in any case unlikely to accept a visit from a group with what they would see as preconceived ideas and the intention of using the visit to promote negative publicity.
7.
The draft reply reflects the Governor's views.
Thania
J C Morris
JM2ABE/2
CONFIDENTIAL
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