HKC 400// CONFIDENTIAL
400/100
RECE!
15 NOV 1990
INDEA
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 14120OZ Feo
TELNO 3346
OF 141105Z NOVEMBER 90
AND TO DESKBY 14233OZ PEKING
Ra
uaci,
new Citer NEWAR
070035
MDHIAN 9232
brauch.
на над Когд TOP COPY fmifin Q DIST?
NCNA'S STATUS
1. FROM TIME TO TIME WE GET QUESTIONS FROM THE PRESS CONCERNING THE STATUS OF NCNA. A TYPICAL EXAMPLE IS ONE WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM ATV WHICH ASKS 'DO OFFICIALS OF THE NEW CHINA NEWS AGENCY ENJOY DIPLOMATIC STATUS IN HONG KONG: AND/OR IS THE NCNA TREATED AS A CONSULATE OF CHINA IN HONG KONG?' THIS IS STILL AWAITING
ANSWER.
2. THE SITUATION IN HONG KONG LAW IS OF COURSE QUITE CLEAR. HOWEVER WHEN A FACTUAL QUESTION OF THIS SORT WAS GIVEN A CORRECT FACTUAL ANSWER EARLIER THIS YEAR (I.E. THAT THEY DO (NEXT WORD UNDERLINED) NOT HAVE DIPLOMATIC STATUS) THE CHINESE CHOSE TO MAKE A FUSS. THIS WAS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE SHOOTING INCIDENT'.
3. WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE SENSIBLE TO HAVE A STANDARD LINE FOR DEPLOYMENT WHICH TAKES INTO ACCOUNT BOTH THE REALITIES OF THE SITUATION AND, TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, CHINESE SENSITIVITIES.
4. WE PUT THIS TO NCNA. THEY CONSULTED PEKING AND GAVE US A REPLY TO THE EFFECT THAT 'NCNA IS AN OFFICIAL BODY REPRESENTING THE CENTRAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG. ITS UNIQUE STATUS AND NATURE IS WELL KNOW TO ALL. EARLIER THIS YEAR A SENIOR BRITISH OFFICIAL MADE IRRESPONSIBLE REMARKS ABOUT NCNA'S STATUS. IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE FOR THE BRITISH SIDE TO MAKE FURTHER PUBLIC
COMMENT'.
5. WE DO NOT BELIEVE WE CAN ALLOW OURSELVES TO BE PREVENTED FROM ANSWERING PRESS QUESTIONS IN FACTUAL AND UNCONTENTIOUS TERMS AND HAVE TOLD THE NCNA SO. BUT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE CHINESE VIEW, WE HAVE SETTLED ON THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT: 'THE REPRESENTATIVE AND OFFICIAL NATURE OF THE WORK OF THE NEW CHINA NEWS AGENCY, HONG KONG BRANCH, IS TAKEN FULLY INTO ACCOUNT BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IN ITS ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE NCNA, ITS PROPERTY, AND ITS STAFF, EVEN THOUGH THE NCNA IS NOT A CONSULATE AND ITS EMPLOYEES HAVE NEVER ENJOYED FORMAL DIPLOMATIC OR CONSULAR STATUS
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CONFIDENTIAL