TNAG-2789-FCO40-4028-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1993 — Page 141

CODE 18-77

Mrs Barnes Jones

INTERNATIONALISATION

CONFIDENTIAL

Reference

Cool

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

093

DESK OFFICER INDEX

REGISTRY

PA

Action Taker

1. Thank you for asking for my comments on the draft paper on this subject. I have two main comments.

i) I believe that the Chinese are particularly vulnerable to any suggestion that how they deal with Hong Kong would affect their bid for the Olympics in 2000. While I accept that we might be seen to have an interest in lobbying for Manchester ahead of Peking, there may well be a number of countries who would hesitate to vote for the Chinese if they had been seen to be overturning democratisation in Hong Kong. If they did not get the Olympics it would be a major blow to the Party's position in China.

ii) I also think the paper might be stronger on other countries attitude to our seeking their assistance. Para 20 for example is in my view far too bold. There have been a number of signs that the Japanese are more willing than ever to raise this subject with the Chinese. The attitude of other countries in the region such as South Korea would be crucial. If we could persuade them to say something it would be harder for the Chinese to pretend that this was a western conspiracy. As Korea and Thailand move closer to democracy themselves they may be more sympathetic to our arguments.

развл

RAJ Bunten

15 February 1993

cc: Mr Ricketts

CONFIDENTIAL

18