TNAG-2917-FCO40-4192-International-support-from-Australasia-regarding-the-future--1993 — Page 131

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HONG KONG: AUSTRALIAN VIEWS

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1. The Australian Ambassador brought the Consul-General in Hong Kong, Dr Jocelyn Chay, to call this morning. Dr Chay has a good deal of Hong Kong experience. She was there from 1961-65 and again (in a commercial capacity) for four and a half years before taking up her present position. in August.

2.

We discussed the situation over the Governor's constitutional proposals. I explained where matters now stand. Two points were made on the Australian side which were worth recording:-

are

(a) Mr Lightowler said that he had called on Zhou Nan during a visit to Hong Kong some two weeks ago. They had had a short (20 minutes) and pretty energetic exchange. The Ambassador had explained the Australian position on democracy in Hong Kong in terms similar to those used publicly by his Foreign Minister. Zhou Nan had explained the Chinese position on familiar lines. He had made it clear that if foreign governments who commented on Hong Kong agreed with China's position that was a matter for them, but if they were critical of China they were guilty of interference in China's internal affairs.

(b)

NCNA officials in Hong Kong were leaning on the Australian General Chamber of Commerce to support China's position. Visitors to Peking from the Chamber had recently been told that they were unlikely to see a Vice-Premier because of their government's support for the Governor's proposals.

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28 January 1993

Robin McLaren

12 FEB 1993

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