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Pituentcha

у болу на ракуза

(169

046100

MDHIAN 2893

RESTRICTED

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 22100OZ FCO

TELNO 2800

OF 22090OZ AUGUST 89

INFO IMMEDIATE BTC HONG KONG

167

YRTELNO 1744: LEONARD RAYNER

HID 30111

TOP GO

2 DIS ი

1. RAYNER WAS KNOWN TO THE POLITICAL ADVISER'S OFFICE AS A JOURNALIST DURING THE NEGOTIATIONS WHEN MARGOLIS (THE DPA) HAD CONTACT WITH HIM. THIS WAS APPARENTLY BROKEN OFF BY MARGOLIS WHO FOUND THAT RAYNER'S ARTICLES TENDED TO DISTORT THE BRIEFINGS HE WAS GIVEN.

2. HE HAS SUBSEQUENTLY COME TO OUR NOTICE IN HIS CAPACITY AS HONORARY REGIONAL ADVISER OF THE CBI, URGING EXPANDED ECONOMIC CONTACTS (IN PARTICULAR AIR SERVICES) WITH VIETNAM (SEE CLIFT'S LETTER TO HUM OF 29 APRIL 1987). WE HAVE HEARD FROM HIM MORE RECENTLY THAT THAT BUT CANNOT IN TIME TO MEET YOUR DEADLINE UNEARTH SPECIFIC REFERENCES. COLLECTIVE MEMORY IN HKG WOULD NOT (NOT) LEAD US TO RECOMMEND THAT MR MAUDE SEE HIM.

3. RAYNER WAS KNOWN TO REG HOLLOWAY AND HAS BEEN IN TOUCH WITH SBTC, WHO DESCRIBES HIM AS A USEFUL CONTACT WITH MORE THAN THE AVERAGE BUSINESSMAN'S INTEREST IN CURRENT AFFAIRS. HE CLAIMS TO HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF THE FCO THOUGH WE CANNOT CONFIRM THIS. MOST OF HIS WORK IS OF THE CONSULTANCY TYPE. IT IS HARD TO JUDGE HIS EXACT STANDING IN HONG KONG BUT SOME DO HOLD HIM AT ARMS LENGTH. SBTC WOULD SEE SOME VALUE IN MR MAUDE GIVING RAYNER FIVE MINUTES, IF HE HAD THE TIME TO SPARE.

FORD

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