CONFIDENTIAL
147541 MDADAN 8245
AN MP.
8. SONG LOOKED UNCOMFORTABLE BUT MADE NO EFFECTIVE RESPONSE. HE
HOPED SUCH MATTERS WOULD NOT OCCUR AGAIN. I REPLIED THAT WHATEVER VIEW PEOPLE IN BRITAIN MIGHT TAKE OF MR PARRY'S CONDUCT THE HEAVY HAND ACTION OF THE PSB COULD ONLY DO HARM TO CHINA'S IMAGE IN BRITAIN. SONG, EMPHASISING THAT ALL HIS REMARKS WERE MADE ON A PERSONAL BASIS, SAID THAT CHINA'S IMAGE WOULD BE DAMAGED MORE IF IT FAILED TO DEAL WITH THOSE WHO VIOLATED LAWS, INCLUDING FOREIGNERS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHINA'S LAWS AND REGULATIONS. AS AN MP MR PARRY OUGHT TO HAVE KNOWN BETTER.
9. I REITERATED MY 3 MAIN POINTS.
MEDIA CONTACT
10.
CHINESE
ON RETURNING TO THE EMBASSY I BRIEFED WAITING HONG KONG
JOURNALISTS AS FOLLOWS:
I HAD CALLED ON THE MFA ON INSTRUCTIONS TO REGISTER OUR CONCERN
AT CHINESE HANDLING OF THIS INCIDENT.
I WAS NOT PREPARED TO COMMENT ON THE FACTS OF THE CASE (SINCE
NEITHER I NOR MY STAFF HAD HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK TO MR PARRY).
I EXPRESSED MINISTERS' CONCERN THAT THE REACTION OF THE CHINESE
AUTHORITIES HAD BEEN EXCESSIVE, AT THE THE LACK OF INFORMATION PROVIDED TO US AND OUR INABILITY TO OBTAIN ACCESS TO MR PARRY. I
DECLINED TO BE DRAWN ON QUESTIONS ABOUT A FORMAL PROTEST OR THE
LEGALITY OF MR PARRY'S ACTION.
ACTIVITY BY COLLEAGUES
11.
THE SWISS AMBASSADOR HAS ALREADY RECEIVED THE SAME INFORMATION AS MYSELF. HE PROTESTED TO THE CHINESE ONLY ABOUT
LACK OF ACCESS TO A SWISS NATIONAL. THE GERMAN AND FRENCH
AMBASSADORS HAVE ALSO BEEN CALLED TO THE MFA AND WILL SPEAK ALONG
THE LINES I TOOK WITH SONG.
MCLAREN
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