CONFIDENTIAL
010117
MDHIAN 901
IRAQ, WHERE US AND UK VITAL INTERESTS WERE ACTIVELY ENGAGED. THERE WAS NO POSSIBILITY OF STOPPING THEM. THE ESCAPE VALVE ALLOWED FOR BY DEMONSTRATIONS IN HONG KONG CONTRIBUTES TO THE TERRITORY'S STABILITY.
THE CHINESE SHOULD DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE LEGAL EXPRESSION OF VIEWS BY A TINY HANDFUL OF PEOPLE, HOWEVER ANNOYING THEY MAY FIND THESE VIEWS, AND SUBVERSION. THE CHANTING OF A FEW SLOGANS OUTSIDE THE NCNA BUILDING IN HONG KONG ARE NOT GOING TO SUBVERT THE GOVERNMENT OF A COUNTRY THE SIZE OF CHINA.
THE PIN PRICKS OF VERY SMALL DEMONSTRATIONS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO DISRUPT THE DEVELOPMENT OF SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS. THAT WOULD GIVE THE GROUPS INVOLVED JUST THE SUCCESS WHICH THEY DO NOT DESERVE.
CLOUD HAILER JUDGEMENT) SHOWS THE LEGAL CONSTRAINTS UNDER WHICH WE HAVE TO OPERATE.
CHONG KONG GOVERNMENT USES THE PRETEXT OF THE LAW TO ALLOW THE HONG KONG ALLIANCE TO ENGAGE IN SUBVERSION). NOT SO. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION WITHIN THE LAW IS A FUNDAMENTAL PART OF HONG KONG'S SYSTEM. INDEED UNDER THE TERMS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION, CHINA IS PLEDGED TO PRESERVE IT AFTER 1997.
(CONTRIBUTIONS BY THE HONG KONG ALLIANCE TO ORGANISATIONS WITH SIMILAR OBJECTIVES, SUCH AS THE FEDERATION OF DEMOCRACY IN CHINA). CAN UNDERSTAND IRRITATION. BUT SUCH CONTRIBUTIONS ARE LEGAL IN HONG KONG TERMS. HONG KONG ALLIANCE'S SUPPORT AND FUNDS
ARE DIMINISHING.
ESSENTIAL FACTS
1. THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT DO NOT ALLOWS DISSIDENTS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES TO COME TO HONG KONG AND USE IT AS A PLATFORM FOR ANTI- CHINESE SPEECHES ETC. THE GODDESS OF DEMOCRACY RADIO SHIP WAS NOT ALLOWED TO ENTER HONG KONG HARBOUR LAST YEAR. BUT WHILE OUTSIDE ACTIVISTS CAN BE KEPT AWAY, THERE IS NO POSSIBILITY OF CLAMPING DOWN ON LEGAL FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION WITHIN HONG KONG. THAT WOULD BE WHOLLY COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE.
2. OVER THE PAST 6 MONTHS, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS RECEIVED COMPLAINTS FROM NCNA ABOUT 5 DEMONSTRATIONS (ALL OF THEM TO PROTEST ABOUT THE TRIALS AND SENTENCES ON PRO-DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS
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CONFIDENTIAL