RESTRICTED
000701
MDLIAN $30
THE SAME STANDARDS. HE CONCLUDED SUCH PEOPLE WOULD BE WELCOMED BY CHINA, EVEN IF THEY HAD COMMITTED CRIMES, SO LONG AS THEY HAD TURNED OVER A NEW LEAF.
COMMENT
4.
THE SPOKESMAN'S CLARIFICATION OF HIS MINISTER'S COMMENTS DOES NOT INSTIL CONFIDENCE. IT DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE OCCURED TO EITHER OF THEM THAT, IN HONG KONG AND OTHER PLACES UNDER THE RULE OF LAW, THE COURTS WOULD NORMALLY DECIDE HOW TO TREAT CRIMINALS, INCLUDING THOSE WHO HAD TURNED OVER A NEW LEAF. MOREOVER IT IS WELL-KNOWN THAT THE CHINESE POLICE TOLERATE OR TURN A BLIND EYE TO CERTAIN ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES SO LONG AS THEY GAIN SOME BENEFIT.
MCLAREN
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
147
DISTRIBUTION
158
.CHINA POLITICAL
FED
UND
LEGAL ADVISERS
PUSD
INFO D
CONSULAR D
CRD
EASD/ODA//MR MOSSELMANS
ECD (E)
ECONOMIC ADVISERS
CFSP UNIT
ERD
HKD
HRPU
SAD
SEAD
PS
PS/BARONESS CHALKER
PS/MR GOODLAD
PS/PUS
MR LANKESTER
MR APPLEYARD CHIEF CLERK SIR J COLES MR AINSCOW
MR ALSTON
MR MILES
SIR M BURTON
MR HUM
JOINT DIRECTORATE
NEWS D
PLANNERS
RAD
MR BONE
MR MANNING
MR MASEFIELD
MR MUIR
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