CONFIDENTIAL
074522 MDHIAN 5411
4. This is ominous.
There had already been signs that Han was Losing patience. He staged a sit-in at the NCNA on 16 September, during which he apparently demanded money, before being quietly persuaded to leave by the Police. This, and a similar episode on 20 September, received minimal publicity. But Chinese sensitivities remain high: the NCNA formally urged us on 20 September not to take any action regarding Han which would "make trouble between Britain and China".
5. We have done what we can to prepare for the most obvious possibilities (e.g. a hunger strike or other protest outside the NCNA). If Han does break the law, we will of course have to proceed against him, as we would with anyone else. Whatever Han is planning, we will need to be braced for Chinese protest, including perhaps during the 12th round of electoral talks.
PATTEN
YYYY
MAIN
57
.HK POLICY
HKD
PUSD
FED
DISTRIBUTION
64
NTCD
PLANNERS
RAD
LEGAL ADVISERS//MS BARRETT LEGAL ADVISERS//MISS BROOKS NEWS D
PS
PS/MR GOODLAD
SIR J COLES
MR HUM
ADDITIONAL
7
CAOFF//SIR R BRAITHWAITE (DIO)
CAOFF//MISS NEVILLE-JONES CAOFF//MR SIBSON
NNNN
PS NO 10.
2
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