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CONFIDENTIAL
CABINET: THURSDAY 22 JANUARY
CHINA: RESIGNATION OF HU YAO BANG
1.
Hu Yao Bang (who visited the UK in June) resigned as General
Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party on 16 January, after admitting political mistakes. Zhao Zi Yang has taken over as acting General Secretary as well as retaining his position as Premier.
2. Hu's resignation follows Party criticism of his reluctance to
take a firm line over student demonstrations in December. Hu was
one of Deng Xiao Ping's proteges, but there were signs earlier in
1986 that Deng wished to replace him. This has since then been
confirmed by Zhao Zi Yang in conversation with Hungarian visitors.
3. Chinese statements about their intention to pursue the same reformist policies, and the appointment of Zhao as head of the
Party, suggest that a majority in the leadership still support Deng's reformist programme. But this resignation, and its suddenness in particular, has been a major hiccup: we can expect caution and delays in implementation, and the postponement of some of the more
sensitive elements such as price reform.
4. Chinese intellectuals will have been dismayed by this clear
indication from Deng that he is not prepared to tolerate substantial
advances in freedom of expression and there has been some concern in
Hong Kong. Although Chinese spokesmen there have been at pains to emphasize that Chinese policy remains unchanged, it may be more difficult to obtain Chinese agreement on further constitutional
developments.
FC4AAD
CONFIDENTIAL
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