GRS 200-
CONFIDENTIAL
DESK BY 060945Z
2.55
CONFIDENTIAL
ADO COL
FROM PEKING 06091-Z OCT 83
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 992 OF 6/10/83
REPEATED FOR INFO TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
(250)
MIPT: COMMENT
MKK04012
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
14 JCT 1983
Derek OFFICER
INSPX
PA
"
REGISTRY
Action Tusii
1. THIS COMMENTATOR PIECE, WHICH CONTAINS EVEN MORE EMOTIVE AND VITRIOLIC LANGUAGE THAN YESTERDAY NCNA COMMENTARY, IS YET
A FURTHER PROPAGANDA ESCALATHON. A PEOPLE'S DAILY COMMENTATOR IS USUALLY A SENIOR PARTY FIGURE IN THE PEOPLE'S DAILY ESTABLISHMENT: ON THIS OCCASION THERE CAN BE LITTLE DOUBT THAT THE PIECE WAS AUTHORIZED AT A HIGH LEVEL.
2. MOST OF THE POINTS IN THE COMMENTARY ARE FAMILIAR, THOUGH SOME ARE EXPRESSED MORE STRONGLY THAN BEFORE. THERE IS HOWEVER, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE PUBLIC MEDIA, A VERY CLEAR THREAT THAT CHINESE PATIENCE IS NOT INFINITE: THIS STRENGTHENS OUR SUSPICION THAT THE CHINESE ARE PREPARING PUBLIC OPINION HERE FOR
A POSSIBLE BREAKDOWN IN THE TALKS IF THE BRITISH DO NOT MOVE. THIS SUSPICION IS FURTHER STRENGTHENED BY THE STATEMENT THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT MUST TAKE ALL THE RESPONSIBILITY IF THE TALKS FAIL.
CLARK
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
COPIES TO
LIMITED
ED/BD
MR BURROWS
SIR IAN SINCLAIR LEGAL ADVISER LEGAL ADVISER
HD/FED
MR ROBERTS
NEWS D
HD/PLANNING STAFF
HD/PUSD
PS
PS/LADY YOUNG
PS/MR LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR J BULLARD
MR GIFFARD
MR. DONALD MR WRIGHT
·SIR A PARSONS
MR. WALKER
ASSESSMENTS STAFF
CABINET OFFICE
PUSD
NO 10 DOWNING STREET
NO 10 DOWNING STREET
RESEARCH D OAB
MR. MARTIN
MR FLOWER
MR. COLES
CONFIDENTIAL
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