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CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1519
OF 24112OZ SEPTEMBER 93
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
INFO PRIORITY WASHINGTON
YOUR TELNO 843: HAN DONGFANG.
1.
UP.
2.
WE HAD IN FACT ALREADY SPOKEN TO MUNRO ALONG THE LINES SUGGESTED IN TUR. HIS RESPONSE WAS THAT HAN'S MIND WAS MADE
HAN'S PROTEST
WILL PROBABLY TAKE THE FORM OF A VIGIL OUTSIDE THE NCNA PERHAPS TURNING AFTER 3 DAYS INTO A HUNGER STRIKE. THIS HAS NOT YET BEGUN. HAN HAS APPARENTLY POSTPONED THE START UNTIL TOMORROW (25 SEPTEMBER) BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER; IT HAS BEEN RAINING HEAVILY ALL DAY. HAN'S PLANS HAVE SO FAR RECEIVED NO PUBLICITY.
COMMENT.
3.
A PROTEST OF THIS KIND COULD RAPIDLY BECOME AN EMOTIVE EVENT, PARTICULARLY IF HAN GOES AHEAD WITH A HUNGER STRIKE. PROVIDED HAN, AND THE SUPPORTERS WHO WOULD NO DOUBT JOIN THE PROTEST, REMAIN PEACEFUL AND DO NOT CAUSE OBSTRUCTIONS, THEY WOULD NOT BE
COMMITTING ANY OFFENCE, AND WE WOULD NOT TAKE ACTION AGAINST THEM. WE HOPE HAN WILL NOT IN THE EVENT TAKE HIS PROTEST AS FAR AS A SERIOUS HUNGER STRIKE. IF HE DID, WE WOULD FACE DIFFICULT DILEMMAS. WE ARE CONSIDERING WHAT OPTIONS WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN THESE
CIRCUMSTANCES.
PATTEN
YYYY
THIS IS A COPY
THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN RETAINED IN THE DEPARTMENT UNDER SECTION 3 (4) OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT 1958
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