24
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 221230Z FCO
TELNO 1397
OF 221128Z MAY 92
HKA
CONFIDENTIAL
440/1
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
22
la
032366
MDHIAN 5064
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YOUR TELNO 840: EXTENSION OF 1989 OFFICIAL SECRETS ACT: CHINESE REACTION.
1. WE DO NOT HAVE ANY SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THE EXTENSION OF THE ACT BECOMING PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE. WE DO NOT EXPECT A SIGNIFICANT CHINESE REACTION (SEE OUR TELNO 679). ANY REACTION WOULD CENTRE ON THEIR CONCERN THAT THERE SHOULD BE A FORM OF OFFICIAL SECRETS LEGISLATION IN PLACE IN JULY 1997 WHICH THEY WOULD FIND MORE PALATABLE. SHOULD THE CHINESE COMPLAIN, WE WOULD POINT OUT THAT THIS LEGISLATION WILL AUTOMATICALLY LAPSE ON 30 JUNE 1997.
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2. WE DO NOT THEREFORE SEE ANY SUBSTANTIAL RISK OF SPILL-OVER TO THE AIRPORT TALKS.
WILSON
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ΜΑΙΝ
56
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