TNAG-2604-FCO40-3792-Detention-of-Hong-Kong-residents-in-China-1992 — Page 56

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 031100Z FCO

TELNO 975

OF 03070OZ APRIL 92

HKD 05/

ADE 00

IN

24

053200

MDHIAN 9269

TOP COPY Q DIST?

pa

J3⁄4/4

FOLLOWING FOR HKD.

(214)

28

YOUR TELNO 595: CALL ON PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE BY MR STEPHEN NG AND MR LAU SHAN-CHING.

1. WE SEE NO PROBLEM WITH THE LETTER EXPANDING A LITTLE ON THE CASE OF TANG RI-MEI. HOWEVER THE DRAFT IN TUR READS A LITTLE AS THOUGH WE MIGHT ALLOW ANYONE WHO HAD A CIVIL DISPUTE WITH THEIR EMPLOYER TO REMAIN IN HONG KONG IF THEY FLED HERE. PERHAPS YOU COULD ALTER THE LAST SENTENCE TO READ ''GIVEN THE VERY UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE, THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES LET MS TANG REMAIN ON EXCEPTIONAL HUMANITARIAN GROUNDS.''

2. ONE OTHER SMALL POINT. ON FURTHER CONSIDERATION WE THINK THAT MENTION OF HKG EXPERIENCING NO DIFFICULTIES MIGHT GIVE THE CHINESE CAUSE TO THINK THAT WE WERE BUSILY CONTINUING WITH ACTIVITIES IN THIS AREA. IT MIGHT BE BETTER TO PHRASE THE EARLIER SENTENCE ....ASYLUM SEEKERS FROM CHINA, NOR ARE THERE ANY PARTICULAR DIFFICULTIES.

WILSON

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CONFIDENTIAL