CONFIDENTIAL
HKB 091/1
87
064716
MDHIAN 1293
RECEIVED IN
AISTRY
20 MAY 10:
CONFIDENTIAL
FM PEKING
DESK OFFICER
REGISTRY
ва
PA MEN file pls.
INDEX
PA
Action Take!
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 678
OF 181014Z MAY 93
INFO PRIORITY WASHINGTON, HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG, ACTOR
WASHINGTON TELNO 1096, PEKING TELNO 668 AND HONG KONG TELNO 772: US/CHINA: LORD'S VISIT TO PEKING
MY US COLLEAGUE HAS GIVEN ME AN ACCOUNT OF LORD'S VISIT WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH THOSE IN TURS BUT ADDS A LITTLE MORE BACKGROUND
AND DETAIL. IT MAY THEREFORE BE WORTH REPORTING.
1.
BACKGROUND
2.
IN MARCH ROY (US AMBASSADOR) HAD A MEETING WITH SENIOR VICE-FOREIGN MINISTER TIAN ZENGPEI IN WHICH HE LAID OUT A LIST OF US CONCERNS ON HUMAN RIGHTS, NON-PROLIFERATION AND TRADE. THE AIM WAS TO GET THE CHINESE TO FOCUS ON THESE CONCERNS AND TO AVOID INSTANT REJECTION. THEY WERE THEREFORE PRESENTED AS GUIDELINES FOR FUTURE DIALOGUE RATHER THAN AS DEMANDS. THE CHINESE RESPONDED WITH A LIST OF SEVEN AREAS OF CONCERN OF THEIR OWN: US ''INTERFERENCE'' IN TIBET, TAIWAN AND HONG KONG, NO RADIO-FREE ASIA, SUPPORT FOR EARLY CHINESE GATT MEMBERSHIP AND FACILITATION OF TECHNOLOGY
TRANSFER. THERE WERE NO SURPRISES IN THESE TWO LISTS. ALL THE CONCERNS ON BOTH SIDES HAD BEEN VENTILATED IN PREVIOUS EXCHANGES
UNDER THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION.
3.
ROY COMMENTED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A NUMBER OF RELATIVELY ENCOURAGING DEVELOPMENTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE MEANTIME. THE CHINESE HAD CONTINUED TO RELEASE SIGNIFICANT POLITICAL PRISONERS AND THE SITUATION ON THAT FRONT WAS NOW RADICALLY IMPROVED FROM WHAT IT HAD BEEN ONLY A YEAR OR SO AGO: INFORMATION FROM DISSIDENT SOURCES SUGGESTED THAT WHEREAS THERE WERE THEN HUNDREDS OF POST-TIANANMEN DETAINEES IN MAJOR CITIES THE NUMBERS WERE NOW DOWN TO THREE OR FOUR IN MOST OF THEM. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT HAD BEEN IN EARLY APRIL WHEN THE MINISTER FOR PUBLIC SECURITY TAO
SIJU HAD TOLD SENATOR ROBB, THEN VISITING, THAT CHINA WAS CONSIDERING THE POSSIBILITY OF GRANTING ACCESS BY INTERNATIONAL BODIES TO CHINESE PRISONERS. TAO GAVE IT AS HIS PERSONAL OPININON THAT THIS COULD BE MANAGED. ROBB WENT ON TO MENTION THIS TO LI
PENG AT A MEETING ON 7 APRIL BUT GOT NO CONFIRMATION
1
PAGE
CONFIDENTIAL
-
· ROY
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.