CONFIDENTIAL
HULD.
021
RECE
22 NOV 1993
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 21120OZ LUXEMBOURG
TELNO 001
OF 200952Z NOVEMBER 1993
INFO IMMEDIATE FCO, PEKING
GISTRY
ron lakes
?
Nis B.J. fre.
74
072701
MDHIAN 3908
Die
2. lut sup
Еморе.
FOLLOWING FOR THE PRIVATE SECRETARY TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE
MY MEETING WITH CHANCELLOR KOHL: 20 NOVEMBER
SUMMARY
Typical Kohl conversation - his views on Chinese history Larded with references to Bismarck, Churchill, the STASI and the unification of Germany. Kohl a bit shifty when I raised the question of the invitation from President Von Weizsacker to Jiang Zemin to pay a state visit.
2. I had a conversation lasting just over an hour with Kohl. We were on our own. I set out for him the nature of our present argument with China and our objectives for the future of Hong Kong. I put particular stress on the importance of maintaining the rule of law and ensuring fair elections in 1994/95.
In
3. Kohl said that he had mentioned Hong Kong to his interlocutors noting that this was an
issue which the rest of the world would regard as something of a test for China. He also said that he thought that the Chinese wanted to ensure a smooth transition. a separate conversation with my Private Secretary, his political Adviser said that Taiwan and Hong Kong had featured prominently during Kohl's discussions with Li Peng, who had sounded emotional in condemning Britain's allegedly late conversion to democracy in Hong Kong.
When I raised the subject of the presidential invitation and the fact that it conflicted with an EC agreement, he replied that he was sure that the EC would change its position on this, not least in the light of Jiang Zemin's visit to the US and the likely return visit of President Clinton to China.
5.
The Chancellor expressed at length his scepticism about the ability of the present Chinese political culture to survive the
1
PAGE CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.