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CONFIDENTIAL
112503
9
MDLIAN
THE PRC. ALL PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WERE EQUAL BEFORE THE LAW. WE TOOK DECISIONS ON DEMONSTRATIONS AND HANDLED THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW, WITH A PRUDENT REGARD FOR HONG KONG'S SPECIFIC CONDITIONS. IT WAS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT HONG KONG PEOPLE HAD THE RIGHT, WITHIN THE LAW, TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH. IF WE WERE TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST THEM OUTSIDE THE LAW THAT WOULD HAVE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES
FOR STABILITY IN HONG KONG.
5. ON THE SPECIFIC CASE OF THE THEATRE GROUP THE PRESS REPORTS WERE MISTAKEN. THE FUNDING DID NOT COME DIRECTLY FROM HKG BUT FROM THE COUNCIL FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS. THIS MONEY WAS GIVEN TO THE THEATRE GROUP TO SUPPORT ITS ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. IT WAS NOT GIVEN FOR ANY SPECIFIC PROJECT.
6. IN RESPONSE JI SAID THAT THE STAGING OF THE DRAMA WITH INDIRECT SUPPORT OF THE HKG WAS NOT A SIMPLE MATTER. IT SHOULD BE EXAMINED MORE CLOSELY. ON THE DEMONSTRATIONS HE UNDERSTOOD THAT HKG HAD ITS OWN LAWS BUT THESE DEMONSTRATIONS WERE DIRECTED AT THE CHINESE LEADERSHIP. THIS WAS NOT AN ORDINARY MATTER. IF HKG WISHED TO DO SOMETHING IT COULD HAVE AN EFFECT.
7. AFTER EHRMAN HAD BEEN ROUND THE COURSE AGAIN, JI SAID THAT ONE OR TWO DEMONSTRATIONS WOULD CAUSE NO SURPRISE. DEMONSTRATIONS HELD WEEK BY WEEK AND EVEN DAY BY DAY AT THE END OF MAY AND IN EARLY JUNE WERE ANOTHER MATTER.
COMMENT
8. A PREDICTABLE APPROACH BY NCNA. DEMONSTRATIONS SO FAR HAVE NOT BEEN LARGE. THEY HAVE BEEN WELL CONTROLLED.
WILSON
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MAIN
57
.HONG KONG AGREEMENT
.(RESTRICTED)
LIMITED
HKD
DISTRIBUTION
60
PUSD
NEWS D
PS/MR MAUDE
PS/LORD BRABAZON
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CONFIDENTIAL