CONFIDENTIAL
12294
P
1
60
TOP COP
ZCZC
OCMIAN 2294
CONFIDENTIAL
DD 01010OZ HOKON
FM FCOLN TO HOKON
311840Z JAN
GRS 334
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 010100Z HONG KONG
TELNO 220
OF 311840Z JANUARY 86
INFO DESKBY 01010OZ PEKING
5857/58
HRR 01!!!
RECE
03FEB 1986
DESY OF
INDRA
AB
32
YOUR TELS NOS 348 AND 343-5 AND PEKING TELNO 163: CONSTITUTIONAL
DEVELOPMENT IN HONG KONG: PRESS STORIES
2.
IN
1.
WE HAVE NOW SEEN THE ARTICLE IN SCMP OF 26 MARCH. VIEW OF ITS GENERAL ACCURACY AND THE COINCIDENCE WITH THE CIRCULATION OF THE EXCO PAPER WE DO NOT THINK THERE CAN BE MUCH DOUBT THAT THE WRITER OF THE ARTICLE HAD SPOKEN TO SOMEONE WHO HAD SEEN THE EXCO PAPER. HOWEVER IT IS VERY MUCH FOR YOU TO
DECIDE TO WHAT EXTENT YOU CAN OR WOULD WISH TO FOLLOW THIS UP. ON WHETHER TO PREEMPT CHINESE SUSPICIONS WE AGREE THAT THE AMBASSADOR SHOULD NOT TAKE THE INITIATIVE IN PEKING. HOWEVER SHAO'S STATEMENT NOW GIVES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO SPEAK TO NCNA IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY THEMSELVES TO ASK ABOUT THE SCMP STORY IF THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IT. SEE SOME ADVANTAGE IN TRYING TO ENSURE THAT THEY DO NOT SIMPLY RECORD THIS AS FURTHER EVIDENCE OF BRITISH INSINCERITY AND ALLOW
IT TO FESTER.
3.
WE
WE THINK HOWEVER THAT A FORMAL DEMARCHE TO NCNA WOULD ELEVATE SHAO TIANREN'S REMARKS BEYOND WHAT IS DESIRABLE OR NECESSARY. THE BEST ANSWER WOULD PERHAPS BE FOR BOYD TO FIND AN INFORMAL OPPORTUNITY FOR TALKING TO NCNA, AND TO POINT
1
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