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relations were extremely good.
That was a basic question which
he did not think needed any further discussion.
4.
When Mr Wang Kuang had talked to him on 23 March, he had said that he would send somebody to see the film and he had repeated this to Mr Pan on 24 March. Because of his own concern he had in fact gone himself to see the film the previous day. Having seen it,
Having seen it, he could understand why those who had originally looked at it considered it as a historical account, critical of events during the Cultural Revolution. At the viewing which he had attended some ordinary people had also been broughtin so that their redions could be obtained. They had generally regarded the film as not being strictly political but telling a story about a past period. However, he did not share this view himself. Having seen the film, he understood the reasons for Mr Wang's concern. It did have in it elements of KMT propaganda. In some ways the propaganda element was done cleverly. To be quite frank, he would personally have preferred that the film had never been shown in Hong Kong.
5.
The problem was that it had been given approval and had been widely advertised. The public showings were due to start that day. To withdraw permission would mean an appeal procedure which would take a certain amount of time and which would also generate considerable publicity. considering this problem, he had therefore thought it best to insist that the film be shown only for a very short period: one week or 10 days at the most. He thought that this was the best way of dealing with the problem. He understood Mr Li's and Mr Wang's concern. He hoped in this way only a limited number of people would see the film: of those who did some would no doubt treat it as purely historical, others would see through and discount the propaganda elements in it. But everybody in Hong Kong knew the real state of our relations and would quickly forget about this episode. He emphasised that this was not the sort of film which he wished to see shown in Hong Kong. These remarks were the comments which he had been planning to make when he had asked Mr Pan to call.
6.
Mr Li said that he was grateful to hear how Dr Wilson thought about the film. Relations were good and it was possible to talk frankly. What NCNA found especially difficult to understand was why this film should be shown when Lord Carrington was coming on visits to Hong Kong and Peking. Dr Wilson said that that had nothing to do with him or the Hong Kong Government. agreed that the timing was unfortunate but he believed our relations were good and stable and that they should not be affected by a small episode of this sort.
7.
Mr Li said that hope was shared by both sides. However, the effect of showing the film which some people wanted (e.g. Sir Run Run Shaw) was not the same.
8.
ค
Dr Wilson said that those who had originally viewed the film had thought of it
historical account and had not sufficiently understood what lay behind it. Some of the local press had seen the film in the same way for example the Ming Pao and the Express. Mr Li said that the problem was not one
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