TNAG-1470-FCO40-1999-Visits-by-Chinese-officials-to-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 7

6. JI IS NOW OLD AND FRAIL. I SUSPECT THAT HE REMAINS IN CHARGE OF THE HONG KONG AND MACAO OFFICE BECAUSE HE IS ON LEVEL TERMS WITH MOST SENIOR MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY. INDEED, I HAVE SEEN IT SUGGESTED THAT HIS PRINCIPAL ROLE IS TO PERSUADE HIS PEERS IN THE PARTY THAT THE POLICIES FAVOURED BY THE HONG KONG AND MACAO OFFICE ARE THE RIGHT ONES. IN THIS CONNECTION, I HEARD RECENTLY FROM KE HUA, THE FORMER - AMBASSADOR IN LONDON, THAT HIS OWN PRINCIPAL FUNCTION AS AN ADVISER TO THE HONG KONG AND MACAO OFFICE WAS TO PREVENT ''ULTRA-LEFT" ELEMENTS IN THE PARTY FROM HARDENING THE POLICIES FAVOURED BY THE HONG KONG AND MACAO

OFFICE.

7. IN SPITE OF HIS IMPORTANCE, I DO NOT THINK THAT ZHOU CAN

EXERCISE A PERSONAL VETO OVER ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE WORDS AND ACTIONS OF HIS SUBORDINATES IN THE MFA. OUTSIDE THIS SPHERE, ! BELIEVE THAT HE HAS TO GET HIS WAY BY PERSUASION.

EVANS

YYYY

PEHPAN 2463

LIMITED HKD

FED PS

Ps 1 Mn RENTON

Ми всстоле

-2-

CONFIDENTIAL

•