CONFIDENTIAL
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MDHIAN 1525
AMENDED DISTRIBUTION 8TH JANUARY 90
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 07090OZ FCO
TELNO 076
OF 070625Z JANUARY 90
INFO DESKBY 07090OZ PEKING
НКВ oiz
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY 24 JAN1990
FOLLOWING FOR RESIDENT CLERK: PLEASE OPSS TOF MCLAREN AUSS AND NEWS DEPARTMENT
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INDEX
НА
YOUR TELNO 57 : SIR PERCY CRADOCK'S VISIT TO PEKING: PRESS LINE
1. REUTERS AND AFP TODAY CARRY STORIES BASED ON THE SUNDAY CORRESPONDENT ARTICLE. TVB AND OTHERS ARE PRESSING US FOR A REACTION TO THE STORY. IN THE LIGHT OF THE AGENCY REPORTS (WE HAVE NOT YET SEEN THE CORRESPONDENT PIECE) GIS ARE DEPLOYING THE FOLLOWING LINE :
CA GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN CONFIRMED THAT) THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WERE AWARE OF SIR PERCY CRADOCK'S VISIT TO BEIJING. CHE COMMENTED THAT) IT IS OBVIOUSLY IN HONG KONG'S INTEREST THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT KEEPS IN TOUCH AT OFFICIAL LEVEL WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES. THE GOVERNOR'S OWN VISIT TO BEIJING NEXT WEEK IS SIMILARLY IN THE CONTEXT OF MAINTAINING CONTACT WITH THE CHINESE.'
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2. WE WILL HAVE THE CORRESPONDENT PIECE FAXED FROM HKG'S LONDON OFFICE BUT DO NOT PROPOSE TO OFFER ANY FURTHER COMMENT. THE SPECULATION, ASCRIBED TO A DIPLOMATIC SOURCE IN BEIJING, THAT THE VISIT'S PURPOSE WAS TO DISCUSS THE UK NATIONALITY PACKAGE IS OBVIOUSLY UNHELPFUL.
WILSON
YYYY
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