TNAG-2911-FCO40-4186-International-support-from-Asia-regarding-the-future-of-Hong-1993 — Page 21

RESTRICTED

FM DHAKA

TO PRIORITY HONG KONG

TELNO 003

OF 300545Z MAY 93

INFO ROUTINE FCO

RESTRICTED

pe lut support

2/6 nust

(161)

117763 MDLIAN 6215

FOR MARTIN DINHAM OR PRIVATE OFFICE TO GOVERNOR

*

1 MOUDUD AHMED, PRIME MINISTER AND VICE PRESIDENT OF BANGLADESH IN ERSHAD'S GOVERNMENT NOW A LEADER OF OPPOSITION JATIYA PARTY, WILL BE IN HONG KONG ON HIS WAY TO AND FROM CHINA. HE HAS ASKED IF MR PATTEN COULD FIND TIME TO RECEIVE HIM FOR A BRIEF COURTESY AND BRIEFING CALL.

2.

HE HAS HAPPY MEMORIES OF HIS OFFICIAL DEALINGS WITH MR PATTEN IN THE AID CONTEXT, AND WOULD LIKE TO RENEW HIS ACQUAINTANCE.

HE WOULD ALSO BE GLAD OF A BRIEFING. HE WILL BE VISITING CHINA AS A GUEST OF THE GOVERNMENT, AND WILL HAVE MEETINGS WITH BOTH GOVERNMENT AND PARTY OFFICIALS.

3.

HE WILL BE IN HONG KONG FOR FULL DAY OF 7 JUNE, AFTERNOON OF 17 AND FULL DAY 18 JUNE. HE WILL BE IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH THE CHIEF OF ASSOCIATED PRESS, ARNOLD ZEITLING OR CAN BE CONTACTED AT HILTON HOTEL ON ISLAND.

4.

MOUDUD AHMED WAS AT FIRST IMPRISONED AND HARASSED BY THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT OF BANGLADESH, BUT HAS NOW REHABILITATED HIMSELF IN HIS PROSPEROUS LAW PRACTICE. HE IS AN ACTIVE CAMPAIGNER FOR THE JATIYA PARTY: BUT HE AND OTHER JP LEADERS ARE TALKING ABOUT A POSSIBLE RECONCILIATION WITH THE PRIME MINISTER'S BNP PARTY AFTER THE NEXT ELECTION. HE IS PROBABLY THE MOST CAPABLE OF THE BANGLADESH POLITICIANS AND IS LIKELY TO RISE AGAIN TO THE TOP. HE IS VISITING CHINA WITH THE AGREEMENT OF THE PRESENT FOREIGN MINISTER.

5. HOWEVER, HE UNDERSTANDS HOW BUSY MR PATTEN IS, AND THAT IT MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE FOR AN APPOINTMENT TO BE MADE.

IMRAY

1- HKD 02.1/2

193

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