TNAG-2714-FCO40-3920-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1993 — Page 122

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CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM PEKING

TO ROUTINE FCO

TELNO 419

OF 240428Z MARCH 93

INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG, BTC HONG KONG

107322 MDLIAN 2674

PERSONAL FOR RICKETTS, HKD, FROM AMBASSADOR

HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR PS/GH

MY TELNO 407: FAC ENQUIRY INTO HONG KONG

1

·

TELEGRAPHIC EXCHANGES ABOUT THE FAC'S PROPOSED VISIT TO THE FAR EAST HAVE SO FAR CONCENTRATED ON PRELIMINARY POINTS SUCH AS THE LIKELY CONVENIENCE OF THE PERIOD THE COMMITTEE HAVE IN MIND FOR THEIR TRIP.

2.

MINISTERS MAY IN DUE COURSE NEED TO CONSIDER WHETHER THEY SHOULD OFFER THE FAC ANY ADVICE ABOUT THE DESIRABILITY IN POLITICAL TERMS OF INCLUDING PEKING IN THEIR ITINERARY. IT IS DIFFICULT TO FORECAST WHAT THE STATE OF OUR RELATIONS WITH CHINA OVER HONG KONG WILL BE IN SIX MONTHS TIME. BUT IF WE ARE STILL AT DAGGERS DRAWN IT MIGHT BE BEST TO SEEK TO DISSUADE THE COMMITTEE FROM COMING TO PEKING. IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THE CHINESE WOULD REFUSE TO SEE THEM. ON THE CONTRARY, THEY WOULD DO THEIR BEST TO EXPLOIT THE VISIT FOR THEIR OWN ENDS, EXPLAINING THE CHINESE POSITION AT GREAT LENGTH, AND LECTURING THE COMMITTEE ABOUT BRITISH INIQUITIES. THE VISITORS WOULD NO DOUBT GIVE AS GOOD AS THEY GOT, BUT IT IS UNLIKELY THAT A VISIT WOULD ADD GREATLY TO THEIR KNOWLEDGE.

MCLAREN

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My Richetts,

Schlagree will-

Sir R. Mcl. free 71 value i expoling the committie to the chinde as much as pollible. This might mininte recommendations to reduade the Chinche to do A, B, C..-.

льз

NB 24/3.

Fair povel. Un shäl lover in

aam

submission