FORUM
DETAIL
HONG KONG:
CONFIDENTIAL
THE INTERNATIONALISATION ISSUE
COMMENT
ANNEX
CHOGM
G7 Summit
EC
European Parliament
Meets biennially. Next CHOGM October 1993 in Cyprus. Secretary General writes to PM 6 months before meeting inviting contributions for agenda items.
Annual meeting, generally July. Next meeting, Tokyo July 1993. Agenda worked up in 4 months preceding summit.
Through Political Cooperation. Asia Working Group, Political Directors, Foreign Affairs Council, European Council.
Inspire MEPS to put down resolutions/table motions.
The 1989 CHOGM communique, in the wake of Tiananmen, contained an expression of support for Hong Kong acknowledging the "concerns of the people of Hong Kong" and agreed "that those in a position to do so would assist in any way possible in promoting the continued prosperity of Hong Kong". This was linked with support for the JD "the success of which was vital to the maintenance of international confidence in Hong Kong".
Has most of Hong Kong's major economic partners and most of those whom China needs for its economic reform programme. So a potentially useful grouping for declaratory policy. But Japan would be very uncomfortable at the prospect, and the Chinese will react very sharply.
We already brief partners at working group level. We could stimulate discussion at higher level - or seek inclusion of language in Council of Ministers' statement, or from European Council. Some partners, with their own difficulties with China (eg France, Germany) may be reluctant to take high profile in Hong Kong.
Sporadic interest only so far. Unguided missile, since individual MEPS given to riding hobby horses, with little interest for most members (eg Lord Bethell).
detailedmeetings/NAT/JEB
CONFIDENTIAL
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