British Embassy 11 Guang Hua Lu Peking
47
Ref: 014/1
2 March 1987
R D Clift Esq
Political Adviser Hong Kong
Нив
Your Ref : SCR1/2/4841/66
HuB 0201 Rey
Do we have X) arget.
сору
ん
Fes
CFL 4/3
CHINA
1.
I have tried without success to track down the source of the story mentioned in your letter of 18 February. The Australians here do not recall reporting any such story as fact and are inclined to believe that there may have been some misunderstanding.
There has of course been much speculation both here and in Hong Kong about Deng's political standing following the removal of Hu Yaobang.
It is generally held here that Deng Xiaoping remains a dominating and indispensable figure on the Chinese political scene, although he must have lost some prestige as a result of the Hu Yaobang affair and may well now have to take a greater account of other groups and actors on the Chinese political stage than he had to before. There are of course some who take a more pessimistic line similar to that mentioned in your letter. I have not however heard any authorititively sourced information to the effect that Deng was in serious trouble now.
Часо боку
сс
: HKD, FCO
Rod Wye
First Secretary