CONFIDENTIAL
04018
1 HKB GHH.
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
RF
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 2731
OF 150805Z JULY 88
INFO PRIORITY PEKING!
JUL 1988
DY
056511
MDLIAN 2899
KOWLOON WALLED CITY
OUR AGREEMENT WITH THE CHINESE ON THE CLEARANCE OF THE KOWLOON WALLED CITY WAS RECORDED IN LETTER FROM THE TWO NEGOTIATORS QIAO ZONGHUAI AND BOYD (THEN PA) TO RESPECTIVELY KE ZAISHUO AND MYSELF (AS AUSS). BOTH LETTERS ARE DATED 12 JANUARY 1987, AND PROVIDE THAT THE ENTIRE AREA OF THE KOWLOON WALLED CITY WILL BE CLEARED AND DEVELOPED AS A PUBLIC PARK. AT THE TIME IT WAS UNDERSTOOD THAT NO TRACE OF THE OLD WALLED CITY WOULD BE LEFT.
2.
VISITORS TO THE WALLED CITY HAVE REMARKED UPON THE HISTORICAL INTEREST OF CERTAIN ITEMS: SPECIFICALLY, TWO CHING DYNASTY CANNONS: THE OLD YAMEN, SAID TO BE ONE OF VERY FEW EXTANT IN SOUTHERN CHINA: AND THE TIN HAU TEMPLE WHICH HOUSES TWO STONE INSCRIPTIONS.
3
THE CLEARANCE PROGRAMME IS WELL UNDER WAY AND IS GOING SMOOTHLY. IN THE LIGHT OF THIS, WE ARE CONSIDERING WHETHER TO APPROACH NCNA ABOUT THE POSSIBLE PRESERVATION OF THE ABOVE ANTIQUITIES, TO BE SITUATED IN THE PARK. IT IS ARGUABLE THAT THEY ARE REMINDERS OF A PAST THE CHINESE MAY NOT WISH TO BE REMINDED OF AND THE MATTER IS BY NO MEANS ENTIRELY FREE OF ITS FORMER SENSITIVITY. ON BALANCE, HOWEVER, I SEE NO HARM IN THE POLITICAL ADVISER APPROACHING NCNA (SPECIFICALLY QIAO) TO SEEK THEIR VIEW ON WHETHER WE MIGHT KEEP THE MONUMENTS OR NOT. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS.
WILSON
YYYY
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CONFIDENTIAL