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003530 MDLIAN 9299
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FM PEKING
TO ROUTINE F CO
TELNO 653
OF 08073OZ MAY 91
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• HKCO10/1
10 MAY 1991
INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
HONG KONG FOR GOVERNOR/POLAD.
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je resonalities.
HONG KONG TELNO 1391 : HONG KONG/GUANGDONG RELATIONS.
W
huala
1 DURING A PRIVATE VISIT TO CANTON, FIRST SECRETARY DISCUSSED YE XUANPING'S FUTURE WITH AN OFFICIAL FROM THE GUANGDONG FOREIGN AFFAIRS OFFICE. ACCORDING TO THIS OFFICIAL, YE WOULD TRANSFER TO PEKING AT SOME STAGE THIS YEAR, BUT THE PRECISE TIMING HAD NOT BEEN DECIDED. THERE WERE STILL UNRESOLVED PROBLEMS IN CHOOSING A SUCCESSOR (THE OFFICIAL HINTED THAT THERE MAY BE TENSION OVER THIS BETWEEN CENTRAL AND CANTON).
2. RIORDAN ASKED ABOUT A VISIT BY YE TO HONG KONG. THE OFFICIAL REPLIED THAT YE REMAINED KEEN ON TAKING UP THE GOVERNOR'S INVITATION, BUT CLEARANCE WAS STILL AWAITED FOR THE VISIT FROM THE MINISTRY OF SUPERVISION.
COMMENT.
3. THE OFFICIAL MADE IT CLEAR THAT YE WAS TRANSFERRING TO PEKING ONLY RELUCTANTLY. NEVERTHELESS, IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE FOR HIM TO REMAIN IN CANTON WITH HIS NEW POSITION. WE ARE NOT SURE WHAT SIGNFICANCE TO GIVE THE CLEARANCE OF A VISIT TO HONG KONG BY THE MINISTRY OF SUPERVISION. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THIS IS NOW STANDARD PRACTICE FOR SENIOR OFFICIALS. ONE OF THE MINISTRY'S FUNCTIONS IS TO CURB CORRUPTION AND OTHER MALPRACTICE IN GOVERNMENT ORGANS.
COATES
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