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5.
by those Hong Kong Chinese who remained steadfast
throughout the "confrontation"
As regards course B, I think it would be impossible to
contrive a cover story that would be accepted by tho
press and the public. In the case of Wong Chak, the
eleventh newsworker, we were able to contrive means to
bring his sentence into line with those of the other ten
newsworkers and thus to ensure the release of all eleven
by 3 October this year. The credulity of observero was
already strained by this exercise. Course B would mean
a contrived story not only for each of the other ten
newsworkers but also for Wong Chak for the second time.
I fear that any such attempt could only make the Hong
Kong authorities look dangerously foolish and undermine
public confidence.
Thus it seems to me that the Governor should not be pressed
further for the immediate release of the newsworkers. Excopt
for the real risk of trouble in the prisons (to which the
Governor has drawn attention) I think that in the short term
the security situation is probably sufficiently improved for
the shook to be absorbed. But in the long term, we would be
conceding a Chinese victory which would have incalculable
consequences for the future of the Colony. Our position in
Hong Kong depends on the belief of the local population in our
determination. If they doubt this they will start to re-insure
with the other side. This means that we are concerned not
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