CONFIDENTIAL
154121
MDAN 2139
INNOCENT.
-
4 JI SAID THAT GUANGDONG WOULD HAVE AGREED TO A MEETING TOWARDS THE END OF LAST WEEK, AND WOULD IN HIS VIEW HAVE MADE SURPRISINGLY COOPERATIVE PROPOSALS FOR RESOLVING THE ISSUE, HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE DISCUSSION OF THE INCIDENT IN LEGCO WHICH HAD CONSIDERABLY
ANNOYED THE GUANGDONG AUTHORITIES. HE WAS STILL NOT IN A POSITION TO INFORM US OF A SPECIFIC DATE FOR A MEETING BUT HE VOLUNTEERED
THAT HE THOUGHT RAISING THE INCIDENT WITH THE MFA IN PEKING COULD
INFACT HELP TO RESOLVE THE MATTER. HIS ONLY COMMENT ON THE FACTS OF THE CASE WAS THAT IT WOULD STILL BE VERY HARD FOR THE CHINESE SIDE
TO ACCEPT THAT THERE HAD BEEN ANY INVOLVEMENT OF THEIR OFFICIALS.
5. WE HAVE RECEIVED ONE OR TWO INDICATIONS THAT NCNA, AND INDEED THE GUANGDONG FOREIGN AFFAIRS BUREAU, ARE NOT FULLY CONVINCED OF THE GUANGDONG PUBLIC SECURITY BUREAU'S STORY. JI'S HINT THAT PRESSURE IN PEKING MAY FORCE GUANGDONG TO RESOLVE THE MATTER MAY CORROBORATE THIS. WE CERTAINLY HOPE THAT THE ANTI-SMUGGLING MEASURES ANNOUNCED WILL NOW SWEETEN THE ATMOSPHERE. EHRMAN MADE CLEAR THAT WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO GO OVER THESE MEASURES, AS WELL AS THE FACTS OF THE INCIDENT, AT THE BORDER LIAISON MEETING.
WILSON
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
LIMITED
HKD
FED
NEWS D
NNNN
30
DISTRIBUTION
30
MR MCLAREN
MR BURNS
MISS SPENCER
PAGE 2 CONFIDENTIAL