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GRS 220
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
CONFIDENTIAL
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1
020
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 501
OF 11102OZ FEBRUARY 87
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
RECEIVED IN A&Y-BIKY
12 FEB 1907
Tekm
PERSONAL FOR HUM, HONG KOND DEPARTMENT FROM ACTING GOVERNOR
POLITICAL CHANGES IN CHINA
1. GU MU MADE A PREVIOUSLY ARRANGED VISIT TO THE SEZ OVER THE WEEKEND AND A NUMBER OF BUSINESSMEN AND PROPERTY DEVELOPERS FROM
HONG KONG HAD BEEN INVITED TO SHENZHEN TO MEET HIM. THEY WERE EXPECTING A POSITIVE DISCUSSION BUT, IN FACT, THE MEETING TURNED INTO MERELY A SOCIAL OCCASION AND A WASTE OF TIME. THE INFORMANT
SAID THAT HE THOUGHT THIS REFLECTED THE PRESENT INDECISION AND
UNCERTAINTY IN CHINA.
2. IN A SIMILAR VEIN, A PROMINENT BUSINESSMAN, WHO HAS REGULAR CONTACT WITH SHANGHAI, SAID THAT THERE WERE MANY FACTIONS IN THE PARTY IN SHANGHAI AND A LOT OF ARGUMENT AND LITTLE AGREEMENT. THE MAYOR HAD SAID THAT IN THIS RESPECT HE HAD ONE OF THE MOST
DIFFICULT JOBS IN CHINA.
3. I WAS INFORMED AT LUNCH THIS WEEK BY A DIRECTOR OF A LEADING LOCAL COMPANY THAT CHANGES OF ATMOSPHERE HAVE RECENTLY BECOME APPARENT IN THEIR JOINT VENTURES WITH CHINA. IT WAS NOW MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO GET DECISIONS FROM THE CHINESE. MOREOVER,
MOREOVER, THE PARTY OBSERVERS WHO HAD DURING 1986 CEASED TO ATTEND MEETINGS HAD NOW
REAPPEARED.
4.
THIS IS AN UNHELPFUL, IF NOT UNEXPECTED, INDICATION OF WHAT MAY BE A GENERALLY MORE CAUTIOUS APPROACH BY THE CHINESE BUREAUCRACY
TO CONTACTS WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD.
AKERS-JONES
HMINAN 8448
HONG KONG AGREEMENT:RESTRICTED
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
COPIES TO:
MR FIFOOT
LEGAL ADVISERS
RESEARCH DEPT (FE)
DEP/HD/PUSD PS/MR RENTON MR GILLMORE SIR D WILSON
CONFIDENTIAL