CONFIDENTIAL
130
105641 MDHIAN 6957
02111
27 1093
Pors/ Qim
Qian file)
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 28100OZ UKMIS NEW YORK
TELNO 001
OF 280715Z SEPTEMBER 93
AND TO DESKBY 2808OOZ FCO
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JEG HONG KONG
KONG
FROM DEPUTY POLITICAL ADVISER.
UKMIS NEW YORK FOR PRIVATE SECRETARY TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND APPLEYARD, VISITING.
FCO FOR HUM, AUSS.
TELECONS HUM/DEPUTY POLITICAL ADVISER/PRIVATE SECRETARY: POSSIBLE GIFT FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO QIAN QICHEN.
1.
SEEN FROM HERE THERE IS NO NECESSITY FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO MARK CHINESE NATIONAL DAY BY GIVING QIAN A GIFT'. QIAN WILL CERTAINLY NOT BE EXPECTING ONE. BUT IF AN APPROPRIATE GIFT CAN BE IDENTIFIED, IT MAY HELP TO CREATE A MORE CONDUCIVE ATMOSPHERE FOR WHAT COULD BE A DIFFICULT MEETING.
2.
FOR THAT REASON THE GOVERNOR THINKS THE GESTURE WOULD BE WORTH MAKING. IF THE SECRETARY OF STATE WISHES TO PROCEED WITH IT, WE RECOMMEND THAT HE GIVES QIAN A PROOF SET OF THE NEW ISSUE OF HONG KONG COINS, CURRENTLY BEING INTRODUCED INTO CIRCULATION. WE CANNOT THINK OF ANYTHING MADE IN HONG KONG WHICH WOULD BETTER SYMBOLISE THE TERRITORY AND ITS SUCCESS. THE COIN ISSUE ALSO SHOWS WHAT CAN BE ACHIEVED BY EFFECTIVE CO-OPERATION BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA ON TRANSITION MATTERS. THE DESIGN OF THE COINS WAS AGREED IN ADVANCE WITH THE CHINESE. THEY DEPICT THE BAUHINIA FLOWER, THE FUTURE SYMBOL OF THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION, IN PLACE OF THE QUEEN'S HEAD, AND WILL REMAIN IN CURCULATION BEYOND 1997.
3.
GRATEFUL TO KNOW DESKBY 2904OOZ WHETHER THE SECRETARY OF STATE ACCEPTS THIS RECOMMENDATION. IF SO, WE COULD ASK HIS HONG KONG INTERPRETER, MRS Y.S.CHIU, TO BRING THE COINS WITH HER TO NEW YORK. UNLESS INSTRUCTED OTHERWISE, WE WILL SEND THEM UNWRAPPED, ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE WOULD WISH TO SEE THEM BEFORE PRESENTATION. AS A MARK OF HONG KONG'S SINCERITY, WE WOULD
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CONFIDENTIAL
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