CONFIDENTIAL
121120
MDLIAN 8127
RALLY SHOULD TAKE PLACE. FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND OF ASSOCIATION WERE IMPORTANT, AND IT WAS VERY MUCH A PART OF THE HONG KONG WAY OF LIFE. THAT HONG KONG PEOPLE COULD COME TOGETHER TO EXPRESS THEIR OPINIONS.
THIS WAS TRUE IRRESPECTIVE OF THE SUBJECT TO BE DISCUSSED. THE FACT
THAT DIRECT ELECTIONS WERE THE FOCUS OF THE RALLY MADE NO
DIFFERENCE TO THIS POSITION. THE FREEDOM TO MEET IN THIS WAY WAS
FUNDAMENTAL TO HONG KONG AND THIS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE.
5. CLIFT SAID THAT AUTHORITIES,
PARTICULARLY THE POLICE FORCE, WERE VERY EXPERIENCED IN MAINTAINING ORDER AND KEEPING AN EYE ON SUCH
SITUATIONS. HE WAS CONFIDENT THAT THEY WOULD DEAL WITH THIS
SITUATION AS WITH ANY OTHER. HE FORESWAW NO PARTICULAR RISK
FROM THIS MEETING. JI WOULD APPRECIATE THAT NO IMPRESSION COULD
BE GIVEN THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS INTERFERING WITH THE RALLY. NOR
WOULD IT BE APPROPRIATE TO SET SPECIFIC LIMITS ON NUMBERS INVOLVED. HE STRESSED IT WAS PART OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY
TO ENSURE THAT PUBLIC ORDER WAS MAINTAINED. IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT
WE WERE SEEN TO BE DOING THIS ON OUR OWN.
6.
JI UNDERTOOK TO RELAY THE RESPONSE TO HIS LEADERSHIP WITHIN NCNA.
COMMENT
·
7. JI WAS CLEARLY VERY EMBARRASSED AT HAVING TO MAKE THIS DEMARCHE
HE STRESSED TWICE THAT HE WAS ACTING ON INSTRUCTIONS. IT IS
HOWEVER, DISTURBING THAT THE CHINESE, SHOULD FEEL IT NECESSARY TO MAKE AN APPROACH IN THIS WAY. IT COMES VERY CLOSE TO INTERFERING
WITH THE NORMAL WAY OF LIFE IN HONG KONG. WE DO NOT KNOW WHETHER
THE INSTRUCTION ORIGINATED IN PEKING OR WITHIN NCNA HERE.
FORD
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
42
HONG KONG AGREEMENT
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF
DEP HD/PUSD
DISTRIBUTION
57
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR PS/MR EGGAR
PS/PUS
MR GILLMORE
MR WATTS
MR MCLAREN