CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 04043OZ FCO
TELNO 397
OF 04035OZ FEBRUARY 89
INFO DESKBY 04050OZ PEKING
(12)
CONFIDENTIAL
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
Hicp 30612
057752
MDHIAN 1162
FCO FOR RESIDENT CLERK
XD
YOUR TELNO 326: FILM CENSORSHIP: ''IF I WERE FOR REAL''
1. POLITICAL ADVISER TOOK ACTION ON 4 FEBRUARY WITH LI RUOHE OF
NCNA CIN ABSENCE OF JI SHAOXIANG). HE SPOKE AS IN PARA 10 OF MY
TELNO 319 AS AMENDED BY PEKING TELNO 126 AND YOUR TELNO 304.
2. LI TOOK NOTE AND UNDERTOOK TO REPORT. HE ASKED FOR CONFIRMATION
THAT THE FILM DISTRIBUTOR WAS BEING INFORMED TODAY. HE SAID THAT HIS PERSONAL VIEW WAS THAT IT WOULD BE ''MORE PRUDENT'' IF THE
NOTIFICATION TO THE DISTRIBUTOR WERE DELAYED UNTIL THE CHINESE
AUTHORITIES HAD HAD TIME TO REACT.
3. POLITICAL ADVISER MADE CLEAR THAT THE DECISION HAD BEEN TAKEN
AND THAT WE COULD NOT DELAY PASSING IT ON. THE PURPOSE OF THE DISCUSSION WITH LI WAS TO EXPLAIN THE BACKGROUND TO THE DECISION
IN THE LIGHT OF PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES.
COMMENT
4. GIVEN THE CHINESE NEW YEAR IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THE CHINESE WILL
REACT BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS BUT IN THE LIGHT OF LI'S REMARKS WE WOULD NOT TOALLY RULE THIS OUT IF THEY MOVE QUICKLY. IF THEY DO, WE SHALL STICK TO THE AGREED LINE, DEPLOYING THE ADDITIONAL POINTS IN PARA 11 OF MY TELNO 319 AS NECESSARY.
NOTE FOR RESIDENT CLERK
5. NO NEED TO INFORM DEPARTMENT BEFORE MONDAY UNLESS FURTHER
DEVELOPMENTS REPORTED FROM HERE OR PEKING.
WILSON
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CONFIDENTIAL