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017767
MDTTAN 5336
IT WOULD MARK THE FURTHER INVOLVEMENT IN HIGH POLICY DECISION MAKING OF THE JIANG ZEMIN AGE GROUP OF LEADERS. DING IS 63, THREE YEARS YOUNGER THAN JIANG. HITHERTO THIS HAD TENDED TO BE THE PRESERVE OF AN OLDER GENERATION, JI PENGFEI AND THE LIKE. WE DO NOT KNOW A GREAT DEAL OF DING'S POLITICAL VIEWS. HE WAS
CLEARLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE POST-TIANANMEN LEADERSHIP AS HE WAS PROMOTED TO THE PARTY SECRETARIAT AT THE 4TH PLENUM WHICH
DISMISSED ZHAO AND THE OTHER REFORMISTS FROM THE LEADERSHIP.
ON THE OTHER HAND, HE HAS LONG STANDING PERSONAL CONNECTIONS WITH DENG XIAOPING, AND THIS, TAKEN WITH HIS RELATIVE YOUTH, MIGHT LEAD HIM TO BE A LITTLE MORE OPEN MINDED ON HONG KONG QUESTIONS THAN THE OLD BOYS. HOWEVER, THIS REMAINS TO BE DEMONSTRATED, AND WE SHOULD NOT DELUDE OURSELVES INTO THINKING THAT ANY LEADER IN PEKING IS LIKELY TO BE PARTICULARLY
SYMPATHETIC TO OR EVEN SENSIBLY UNDERSTANDING OF HONG KONG'S
PECULIAR SITUATION.
SIGNED R F WYE
YYYY
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