TNAG-2669-FCO40-3866-Hong-Kong-Civil-Service-1993 — Page 305

RESTRICTED

FM SEOUL

TO TELELETTER FCO

TELELETTER 020/2

OF 220738Z APRIL 93

FROM:

MD REILLY ESQ, SEOUL

TO: W MORRIS ESQ, FED FCO

RESTRICTED

!

REX

01.

INDEX

شدا

176026 MDTTAN 0892

(10

*TRY

Activi JACÃ

224/4

J

NORTH KOREA AND HONG KONG

花にはい

1. PLEASE REFER TO HMA'S TELELETTER TO YOU NFR OF 12 FEBRUARY TOKIZI;

HONG KONG TELNO 268 OF 19 FEBRUARY AND FCO TELNO 155 TO HONG KONG OF 22 FEBRUARY.

2.

(8)

3

(copy atte

I HAD LUNCH WITH TONY MICHELL TODAY WHO GAVE ME, IN CONFIDENCE, A COPY OF A FAX HE HAS RECEIVED FROM THE (NORTH) KOREA COMMITTEE FOR PROMOTION OF EXTERNAL ECONOMIC COOPERATION WHICH HAS INVITED HIM TO VISIT PYONGYANG IN EARLY MAY TO COINCIDE WITH THE THIRD MEETING OF THE TUMEN RIVER AREA PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

WHICH IS BEING HELD ON 9-10 MAY.

3. MICHELL SAID THAT THE MAIN REASON FOR HIS WISHING TO VISIT PYONGYANG IS TO PURSUE THE IDEA WITH REFORM-MINDED BUREAUCRATS OF SENDING THEM TO HONG KONG FOR MANAGEMENT TRAINING AND EXPOSURE TO CAPITALIST THINKING. HE SAID THAT HE WAS PARTICULARLY KEEN TO SEND KIM CHONG-U TO HONG KONG AS BEING A SENIOR MEMBER OF A GROUP OF REFORMISTS, SO THAT HE COULD DISCUSS IN MORE DETAIL WITH HONG KONG COMPANIES THE POSSIBLE TRAINING THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE. (FCO TELNO 155 TO HONG KONG.)

4.

AS MICHELL HAS PREVIOUSLY EXPLAINED TO THE AMBASSADOR (HMA'S TL OF 12 FEBRUARY) HIS CONSULTANCY IS ACTING ON BEHALF OF OTHER BRITISH COMPANIES IN PURSUING THESE CONTACTS. IT IS CLEAR THAT HE IS NOT PURSUING THIS FOR ALTRUISTIC OR POLITICAL REASONS BUT BECAUSE, SOMETIME, HE EXPECTS COMMERCIAL BENEFITS TO FLOW FROM CULTIVATING THE NORTH IN THIS WAY.

5.

NOTHING MORE WILL EMERGE UNTIL AFTER MICHELL'S FORTHCOMING

VISIT TO PYONGYANG ON WHICH HE HAS PROMISED TO KEEP US INFORMED. BUT ASSUMING PLANS FOR A VISIT BY KIM TO HONG KONG PROCEED, SEEN FROM HERE THERE IS NO REASON WHY WE SHOULD OPPOSE THE GRANTING OF A | VISAS GIVEN THAT THE TRIP WOULD ULTIMATELY BENEFIT BRITISH

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