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31
016326
MDLIAN 4456
RESTRICTED
FM BANGKOK
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 854
OF 300933Z DECEMBER 92
INFO PRIORITY ASEAN POSTS, HONG KONG, PEKING
HKD 021/a 1
YOUR TELNO 675 TO TOKYO: HONG KONG
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pa do sitiz
35/12.
1 I CALLED ON KHUN PRACHA, PERMANENT SECRETARY OF THE THAI MFA, ON 28 DECEMBER, AND SPOKE AS INSTRUCTED. I SPELT OUT THE PATTEN PROPOSALS, AND POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNOR HAD NOT GONE AS FAR AS HE MIGHT HAVE WISHED ON NUMBERS OF DIRECTLY ELECTED LEGCO MEMBERS, PRECISELY TO AVOID INFRINGING THE BASIC LAW AND IN RECOGNITION OF CHINESE SENSITIVITIES. I EMPHASISED THE GREAT IMPORTANCE FOR HONG KONG OF ANCHORING DEMOCRACY FIRMLY IN THE TERRITORY AND OF MAINTAINING THE RULE OF LAW.
2.
KHUN PRACHA SAID HE APPRECIATED WHAT I HAD SAID, ESPECIALLY THE REASSURANCE THAT THE UK DID NOT WISH TO BREAK THE DIALOGUE WITH BEIJING. BUT HE REMARKED THAT LEE KUAN YEW'S VIEWS WERE USUALLY BALANCED AND SHREWD. I AGREED AND EXPRESSED PERSONAL SURPRISE.
3
SENSING THAT PRACHA WAS HOLDING BACK SOMEWHAT I SAID THAT OTHER CONTACTS (EG FORMER PRIME MINISTER ANAND) HAD TOLD ME THAT HE THOUGHT THE UK HAD GONE TOO FAR TOO FAST. WAS THAT THE OFFICIAL VIEW
KHUN PRACHA ADMITTED THAT SOME DID SEE IT IN THAT LIGHT. AS A FORMER CONSUL GENERAL IN HONG KONG, WHO KEPT IN TOUCH WITH CHINESE THINKING ON THE COLONY THROUGH OCCASIONAL CONTACT WITH CHU NAN, (THE NEW CHINA NEWS AGENCY REPRESENTATIVE), HE THOUGHT THE PRCS CHIEF CONCERN WOULD BE THE REPERCUSSIONS OF ANY RADICAL MOVES IN HONG KONG IN OTHER DEVELOPING ECONOMIC ZONES WITHIN THE MAINLAND. HIS ADVICE TO US WAS TO TREAD CAREFULLY GIVEN THE ACUTE CHINESE SENSITIVITY.
COMMENT
4. A SLIGHTLY RESERVED REACTION, BUT THE CALL APPEARED TO ACHIEVE ITS PURPOSE OF SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT. THERE WAS NO SIGN THAT THE THAIS BELIEVE THE AMERICAN CONSPIRACY THEORY,
ADAMS
HKD 021/9
1
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