TNAG-0566-FCO40-699-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-change-in-Chinese-leadership-1976 — Page 42

COMMITTEC WAS QUALIFIED BY THE ASSERTION THAT QUOVZTE THE ENTIRE

PARTY IS SUBORDINATE UNQUOTE TO THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE, IT WOULD BE

A POLD MAN WHO STEPPED OUT OF LINE AT THIS JUNCTURE. THE PRESENT

PRAGILE COALITION WILL PROBABLY HOLD TOGETHER, AT LEAST FOR THE

TIME EEING.

3. MANY FOREIGN OBSERVERS EXPECT THAT AFTER THE PERIOD OF MOURNING A MEETING OF THE LEADERSHIP WILL BE HELD BEFORE

THE NATIONAL DAY ON 1 OCTOBER WITH A VIEW TO FILLING SOME OF THE GAPS AT THE TOP AND LEGITIMIZING THE SUCCESSION. THIS MIGHT BE A MEETING OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE. THE ROMANIANS, WHO ARE CLOSER TO THE CHINESE THAN MOST HAVE SUGGESTED THAT A SECOND SESSION OF THE TENTH PARTY CONGRESS MAY BE HELD. GIVEN THE FACT THAT ALMOST ALL THE LEADERSHIP ARE NOW PRESENT IN PEKING, FAILURE TO HOLD AND ANNOUNCE SOME SORT OF PARTY MEETING WOULD IN ITSELF SUGGEST THAT UNRESOLVED DIFFICULTIES PERSISTED.

IT DOES NOT FOLLOW THAT THEY WILL ELECT A SUCCESSOR TO MAO. SOME EAST EUROPEANS HAVE SUGGESTED THAT THEY WILL BY-PASS THE

QUESTION OF CHAIRMANSHIP BY INSTITUTING A NEW OFFICE OF PARTY

FIRST SECRETARY OR SECRETARY-GENERAL.

4

"

THE EYES AND EARS OF CHINA WILL BE ON TIEN AN MEN SQUARE

ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON WHEN THE MEMORIAL RALLY IS TO BE PROADCAST

AND TELEVISED LIVE TO THE NATION. THE KEYNOTE SPEECH ON THAT OCCASION MAY GIVE US A CLEANER IDEA OF THE DIRECTION WHICH

CHINA WILL TAKE IN THE WEEKS AHEAD.

YOUDE

BT

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