CONFIDENTIAL
172025 MDHIAN519
LIGHT OF THIS LATEST DEVELOPMENT. DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IT MIGHT ALSO BE HELPFUL IF WE COULD REFER TO MR GOODLAD'S APPROACH IN PUBLIC. BUT BEYOND THAT, WE ALSO AGREE THAT OUR BEST INTEREST IS NOW TO KEEP AS FAR AS POSSIBLE OUT OF THE CROSSFIRE BETWEEN HAN AND THE CHIENSE. WE HAVE DISCREETLY SUGGESTED TO HAN'S SUPPORTERS THAT HIS BEST CHANCE OF GAINING ENTRY TO CHINA NOW LIES IN PATIENCE, AND QUIET ATTEMPTS TO WIN FRIENDS AMONG THOSE TO WHOM THE CHIENSE MIGHT LISTEN. ENCOURAGINGLY, ONE HONG KONG MEMBER OF THE CHINESE PEOPLE'S POLITICAL CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE (CPPCC), XU SIMIN, HAS ALREADY APPEALED TO CHIENSE LEADERS TO LET HIM IN.
6.
WE UNDERSTAND FROM HAN'S SUPPORTERS THAT HE MAY BE PLANNING A FURTHER ATTEMPT TO ENTER CHINA, THOUGH WE HAVE NO INDICATION OF HOW OR WHEN. IF HE DOES, WE CANNOT LEGALLY PREVENT HIM LEAVING HONG KONG. PRESUMABLY THE CHINESE WOULD ONCE AGAIN REFUSE HIM ENTRY, AND HAN WOULD BE BACK TO SQUARE ONE. BUT THE EVENT WOULD NO DOUBT BE WELL PUBLICISED. WE ARE ALERTING IMMIGRATION STAFF AT ALL HONG KONG EXIT POINT TO THE NEED FOR SENSITIVE HANDLING.
7.
YOU ASKED HOW HAN ENTERED HONG KONG ON 17 AUGUST. AS SURMISED IN TUR, HE DID SO WITHOUT A VISA UNDER THE NEW VISA WAIVER SCHEME WHICH TOOK EFFECT ON 1 AUGUST. THIS ALLOWS PRC TRANSITEES THE RIGHT TO A VISA-FREE STAY OF 7 DAYS PROVIDED THEY HAVE VALID PASSPORTS AND ONWARD ENTRY FACILITIES. WE ARE KEEPING THE USEFUL POINT IN PARA 2 OF TUR UP OUR SLEEVES FOR POSSIBLE DEPLOYMENT WITH NCNA AT THE RIGHT MOMENT (IF ONE ARISES).
FORD
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
58
.HK POLICY
HKD
PUSD
FED
DISTRIBUTION
65
PLANNERS
RAD
PS
LEGAL ADVISERS//MS BARRETT
LEGAL ADVISERS//MISS BROOKS
NEWS D
PS/MR GOODLAD
SIR J COLES
MR HUM
MR MASEFIELD
NTCD
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CONFIDENTIAL