CONFIDENTIAL
102431
MDHIAN 2348
DEATH IN CHANGSHA. THE CONTEXT OF THE DESCRIPTION OF THEIR SENTENCES INDICATED THAT THE SIX, ''WITH VERY BAD RECORDS' COMMON CRIMINALS NOT INVOLVED IN THE DEMONSTRATIONS.
,
WERE
ON THIS FIRST PARAGRAPH, THEREFORE, I AM LESS THAN HAPPY WITH THE SECOND SENTENCE. I WOULD SUGGEST INSTEAD THAT THERE MIGHT BE MILEAGE IN MAKING A CONTRAST BETWEEN THE DESIRE OF CHINA NOT TO REMAIN A CLOSED SOCIETY (I.E. TO KEEP THE DOOR OPEN TO THE OUTSIDE
WORLD) AND THE ACTIONS OF 3 AND 4 JUNE AND SUBSEQUENTLY. REFERENCE COULD BE MADE TO THE VIOLATION OF THE STANDARDS OF HUMAN
RIGHTS WHICH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY EXPECTS ALL STATES WHO WISH TO BE A MEMBER OF THAT COMMUNITY TO RESPECT. IN THE FIRST SENTENCE ''CONTINUATION'' WOULD BE BETTER
WOULD BE BETTER REPLACED BY CARRYING OUT''.
(B) I WONDER ABOUT THE WISDOM OF DRAWING SPECIFIC ATTENTION AT
THE SUMMIT TO MEMBER GOVERNMENTS' DECISIONS TO EXTEND THE VISAS
OF THOSE CHINESE STUDENTS WHO SO DESIRE. THIS REITERATION AT THE
SUMMIT LEVEL OF WHAT MEMBER STATES ARE DOING MAY FURTHER PUT THE
CHINESE STUDENTS WHO ARE NOW OVERSEAS AT SOME RISK. IT WILL DRAW
ATTENTION TO PEOPLE WHO MIGHT WELL WISH TO RETURN TO CHINA ONE DAY.
(C) I UNDERSTAND WHY THE THIRD PARAGRAPH HAS BEEN PUT IN.
IT CERTAINLY WIDENS THE ISSUE AND OFFERS HOPE OF A BETTER FUTURE. BUT IT IS BOUND TO PROVOKE THE QUESTION AS TO WHAT THE "CONDITIONS' WOULD BE.
t WOULD BE. DOES THIS MEAN MERELY THE CESSATION OF EXECUTIONS AND ARRESTS ? IF NOT, WHAT DOES IT MEAN? SUCH QUESTIONS WILL BE BOUND TO ARISE, NOT LEAST IN OUR OWN PARLIAMENTS. BUT ANY ATTEMPT TO ANSWER THEM WILL BE LIKELY AT A LATER STAGE TO LIMIT OUR FREEDOM OF MANOEUVRE. ONE DAY WE MUST FACE THE DIFFICULT DECISION OVER WHEN AND HOW WE GO BACK TO BUSINESS AS USUAL FOR OUR OWN NATIONAL INTEREST AND THAT OF HONG KONG.
DONALD
YYYY
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