CONFIDENTIAL
047672
MDHIAN 5366
CFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1903
OF 19040OZ JUNE 90
HKB 060
060/1
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
34
2 1 JUN1990
P COPY JIST ? ́
AND TO DESKBY 19073OZ PEKING
INFO PRIORITY UKREP JLG HONG KONG
33
PEKING TELNO 883: ANTI-CHINA ACTIVITIES IN HONG KONG
·
1 WHEN MR COATES CALLED ON JIANG ENZHU ON 15 JUNE THE LATTER REFERRED TO ARTICLES IN THE HONG KONG NEWSPAPERS STATING THAT NCNA DID NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPECIAL PROTECTION (PARA 2 OF TUR).
2. THE NEWSPAPER REPORTS REFERRED TO BY JIANG GAVE A DISTORTED ACCOUNT OF REMARKS BY OSBORNE ON 8 JUNE IN RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS BY THE HONG KONG ECONOMIC JOURNAL. THE JOURNAL RANG OSBORNE AND ASKED HIM DIRECTLY WHETHER NCNA HAD ANY CONSULAR OR DIPLOMATIC STATUS. OSBORNE SAID THAT THEY DID NOT BUT WERE ENTITLED TO PROTECTION IN HONG KONG LIKE ANYONE ELSE. THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WAS URGENTLY INVESTIGATING THE INCIDENT. WHILE THE ECONOMIC JOURNAL ACCURATELY REPORTED OSBORNE'S REMARKS THE FOLLOWING DAY OTHER PAPERS TWISTED WHAT HE HAD SAID AND REPORTED THAT NCNA ENJOYED NO SPECIAL PROTECTION. THESE PAPERS ALSO MADE NO REFERENCE TO HIS OTHER REMARK THAT THE INCIDENT WAS BEING URGENTLY INVESTIGATED.
3. WE SEE NO NEED FOR COATES TO GO BACK TO JIANG ON THIS ONE POINT, BUT PEKING WILL WISH TO BE AWARE OF THIS BACKGROUND IF THE MATTER
IS REFERRED TO BY THE CHINESE AGAIN.
4. THE POLICE CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE THE INCIDENT BUT HAVE REACHED
NO CONCLUSIONS SO FAR.
WILSON
YYYY