UNCLASSIFIED
HKB 020/14.
UNCLASSIFIED
FM SHANGHAI
TO DESKBY 14090OZ FCO
TELNO 63
OF 140815Z JUNE 1989
AND TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, BTC HONG KONG, PEKING
(102)
KY
103
010460 MDHIAN 9170
Enteropa.
ерновой
YOUR TELNO 43:
1.
I TOOK FURTHER ACTION THIS AFTERNOON, EMPHASISING THE DANGER OF REACTIONS IN HONG KONG IF THE PUBLIC SENSED NO NEWS MEANT NO EARLY AND SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME (IE RETURN TO HONG KONG) WAS LIKELY. WHAT WAS KNOWN FROM THE FAMILY OF YAO'S CHARACTER MADE IT CLEAR THAT A FAMILY VISIT MIGHT BE CRUCIAL TO A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME. UNLESS VERY EARLY RELEASE WAS IN PROSPECT, A FAMILY VISIT WAS PROBABLY THE ONLY WAY TO ACHIEVE AN OUTCOME WHICH WAS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF ALL CONCERNED. THE CONCERNS OF HMG RELATED TO VERY MAJOR ISSUES AND I HOPED THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES WOULD HAVE AVAILABLE FROM THEIR OWN SOURCES ACCURATE INFORMATION ABOUT THE MOOD IN HONG KONG. RUMOURS COULD CAUSE IMMENSE DAMAGE WHEN THERE WAS NO NEWS AND WHEN PEOPLE WERE WORRIED AND ANGRY. THE BEST WAY TO PREVENT THIS WOULD BE IF THE FAMILY COULD SAY THEY HAD HAD GOOD NEWS.
ORR
YYYY
DISTRIBUTION
193
ΜΑΙΝ
182
.CHINA POLITICAL
LIMITED
FED
NEWS DEPT
INFO DEPT
PUSD
RESEARCH DEPT
ECD (E)
HKD
SEAD
SAD
RID
SPD
POD
PRU
RMD
DEFENCE D
COD
PS
PS/MRS CHALKER
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR
PS/MR WALDEGRAVE
PAGE
1
UNCLASSIFIED