TNAG-2860-FCO40-4114-Hong-Kong-participation-in-the-World-Conference-on-Human-Rig-1993 — Page 5

Ph

Mar Bunten

1476

ME S

14/6

Mo 196.

Mr Whisky fur Rights of

1/

16/

max

Mr Morris, FED

RESTRICTED

From:

CO Hum

Dat

14 June 1993

241/2 RECEIVED IN DECISTRY

23 JUN 1993

DESK OF

REGISTRY Action Taken

PS

PS/Mr Goodlad

Sir J Coles

Mr Bone

Ms Foulds, HRPU Mr Morris, HKD

WORLD CONFERENCE ON HUMAN RIGHTS: TIBET: LADY THATCHER

1.

I understand that Mr Prentice was contacted this morning by Lady Thatcher's Private Secretary about events at the World Conference on Human Rights: Lady Thatcher was exercised by the exclusion of the Dalai Lama from the opening ceremony and associated events. Mr Prentice asked me to speak to Lady Thatcher and explain the position.

2.

I

I duly did so, drawing on UKMis Vienna Telno 81. I explained that EC delegations would shortly be issuing a statement of regret that the Dalai Lama had been excluded from events associated with the conference. noted that the Austrian Government, as host of the conference, had protested to the Chinese Ambassador but did not intend to force the UN to rescind its ban on the Dalai Lama's attendance at the opening ceremony.

3.

For good measure I also briefed Lady Thatcher on recent developments over Tibet, in particular the Secretary of State's private meeting with the Dalai Lama and the strong line taken by EC representatives on their recent visit to Lhasa. I emphasised that we were playing an energetic role within the EC in pressing for Chinese explanations on the human rights situation in Tibet.

We were also urging the Chinese authorities to resume discussion with the Dalai Lama without

pre-conditions.

4.

Lady Thatcher said that the events in Vienna had been brought to her attention by

Sir Laurens van der Post and some of his associates. She was relieved to know that the EC were making a statement on the Dalai Lama's behalf, but she felt that it should be in much stronger terms. She acknowledged the role which we were playing in broader EC policy on China and Tibet. She expressed astonishment that there had not been greater public concern about events in

RESTRICTED

14