CONFIDENTIAL
IT WAS WRONG TO MISTRUST
THE U.S. SPACE SHUTTLE
MASTERED. HE HIMSELF WAS A SCIENTIST. SCIENCE BECAUSE OF TEMPORARY SET-BACKS. EXPLOSION HAD DISQUIETED MANY PEOPLE, BUT PRESIDENT REAGAN HAD SAID THAT THE FUTURE BELONGED TO THE BRAVE. SONG JIAN AGREED WITH THIS.
COOOENT.
6. THE ABOVE DINNER TOOK PLACE BEFORE WE RECEIVED YOUR TELNO.1124 TO HONG KONG. IT WAS NOT PERHAPS THE IDEAL FORUM TO MAKE POINTS ABOUT OUR CONCERN ABOUT DAYA BAY. BUT SONG'S REMAKRS THAT RESPONSIBILITY FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION ON THIS ISSUE IN HONG KONG RESTED SOLELY WITH THE BRITISH COULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO PASS UN- CHALLENGED (=PARTICULARLY SINCE IT PROVOKED SOME MIRTH AMONG HIS COLLEAGUES). SEVERALOF THE AMBASSADORS PRESENT COMMENTED AFTER- WARDS THAT IT HAD BEEN ABSOLUTELY RIGHT TO PUT THE ONUS BACK ON THE CHINESE. FURTHERMORE, THE FACT THAT SONG WAS OBLIGED TO MAKE HIS POINTS IN PUBLIC FORUM SHOULD HELP TO PUT SOME PRESSURE ON THE CHINESE ON THE SAFETY ISSUE. THE FRENCH EMBASSY, INCIDENTALLY, WAE REPRESENTED BY THEIR ECONOMIC COUNSELLOR WHO MADE NO COMMENT. SONG JIAN HIMSELF CAME OVER AS A HIGHLY COMPETENT AND INTELLIGENT MAN. HE DID HOWEVER HAVE THE TENDENCY TO MAKE LIGHT-HEARTED COMMENTS AND WAS SPEAKING FREELY AND UNSCIPTED. HIS INITIAL REMARK ABOUT BRITISH RESPONSIBILITY WAS NOT I BELIEVE FULLY THOUGHT THROUGH. HIS LATER RESPONSE WASA SERIOUS ONE. WE SHALL NEED TO CONSIDER WITH THE FRENCH HOW TO RESPOND TO HIS INVITATION TO HOLD DISCUSSIONS.
THOMSON
GUANGDONG
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