CONFIDENTIAL
525
134440
MDHIAN 9911
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 18133OZ FCO
TELNO 4158
HKCB
24319
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
04 JAN 1990
TOP COPY
Q
DIST?
DESK OFFICER
REGISTRY
INDEX
PA
Action Taken
OF 18123OZ DECEMBER 89
PERSONAL FOR PAUL HKD FROM GOVERNOR
1508
YOUR TELNO 2494: VBP: REPATRIATION : VIEWS OF LEADING HONG KONG
FIGURES
I AM VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE FLAK MINISTERS HAVE BEEN TAKING FROM SOME SECTIONS OF THE UK MEDIA ON MANDATORY REPATRIATION AND ON THE NEED FOR US TO GENERATE FROM HERE COMMENT THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, LOCAL OPINION IS OVERWHELMINGLY IN FAVOUR OF REPATRIATION EVEN THOUGH SOME GROUPS OR INDIVIDUALS, MAINLY CONNECTED WITH THE CATHOLIC CHURCH OR REFUGEE ORGANISATIONS, HAVE SPOKEN OR DEMONSTRATED (VERY SMALL SCALE) AGAINST.
2. WE HAVE THEREFORE ARRANGED THE FOLLOWING:
(I) OMELCO WILL ENSURE THAT THEIR OWN STATEMENT OF SUPPORT IS DISTRIBUTED IN LONDON TODAY (18 DECEMBER):
(II) MEMBERS OF OMELCO HAVE TODAY GIVEN INTERVIEWS TO THE OVERSEAS MEDIA EXPRESSING THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE POLICY: AND
(III) WE HAVE FAXED A SUMMARY OF LOCAL PRESS EDITORIAL OPINION TO THE HONG KONG LONDON OFFICE FOR DISTRIBUTION TO SELECTED MPS TODAY.
3. WE WILL ALSO DO WHAT WE CAN TO ENCOURAGE FURTHER STATEMENTS OF SUPPORT BY LEADING HONG KONG FIGURES TOMORROW.
WILSON
YYYY
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