RESTRICTED
14
3
MDHIAN 8661
THE MING PAO CHAIRMAN'S UNDERSTANDABLE MOTIVES IN MAKING COMMENTS FAVOURABLE TO THE CHINESE POSITION, THESE HAVE SERIOUSLY UNDERMINED THE PAPER'S INDEPENDENCE. THIS, IT IS PLAUSIBLY ARGUED, WILL ACT AS A FURTHER DETERRENT TO HONEST REPORTING OF CHINESE AFFAIRS BY HONG KONG NEWSPAPERS.
6. WE AGREE WITH PEKING (SECOND TUR PARA 1) THAT OUR FORMAL LOCUS FOR RAISING CASES OF THIS KIND, AT LEAST AS SEEN BY THE CHINESE, IS THIN. REALISTICALLY, EXPERIENCE SUGGESTS THAT THE CHINESE ARE UNLIKELY TO MAKE CONCESSIONS ON SUCH CASES SIMPLY IN RESPONSE TO PRESSURE FROM US, UNLESS THIS SUITS THEM FOR OTHER REASONS. BUT FOR PRESENTATIONAL REASONS HERE, WE CANNOT AFFORD TO EXPOSE OURSELVES TO ACCUSATIONS THAT, IN OUR OWN EFFORTS TO HELP, WE DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF HONG KONG RESIDENT.
PATTEN
YYYY
MAIN
116
DISTRIBUTION
128
.CHINA POLITICAL
FED
LEGAL ADVISERS
PUSD
INFO D//BRIEFWRITERS
CONSULAR D
CRD
EASD/ODA//MR MOSSELMANS
EASD/ODA//MR MCCLEAN
ECD (E)
ECONOMIC ADVISERS
CFSP UNIT
ERD
HKD
HRPD
JOINT DIRECTORATE
NEWS D
PLANNERS
RAD
SEAD
PS
PS/BARONESS CHALKER
PS/MR GOODLAD
PS/PUS
MR LANKESTER MR APPLEYARD CHIEF CLERK SIR J COLES
MR AINSCOW
MR ALSTON
SIR M BURTON
MR HUM
MR BONE
MR KERBY
MR MASEFIELD
MR MUIR
MR BEAMISH
ADDITIONAL
12
CAOFF//MR D GOULD
CAOFF//MISS NEVILLE-JONES
CAOFF//ASSESSMENTS STAFF
PS/PM
PM/PRESS SECRETARY
NNNN