TNAG-1621-FCO40-2235-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-China-1987 — Page 175

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NOW, OF ALLOW TO BE SACRIFICED A MAN WHO HAS DEEN ONE OF HIS TWO PRINCIPAL LIEUTENANTS IN CHE REFORM PROGRAMME WOULD INVOLVE A MAJOR LOSS OF FACE AND A SERIOUS AND, PERHAPS, IRREPARABLE BLOW TO ALL HIS PLANS FOR REFORM AND FOR THE FUTURE. MOREOVER, THE MORE SDIEN HU'S DEPARTURE, THE GREATER THE DAMAGE WOULD BE. BUT NONETHELESS, THE MOUNTING EVIDENCE THAT HU IS IN DEEPER TROUBLE THAN WE AT FIRST THOUGH CANNOT SE IGNORED. NOR CAN THE STRONG TERMS AND STRIDENT TONE OF CURRENT OFFICIAL COMMENTARIES ON IDEOLOGICAL MATTERS

(SEE MIPT).

5. ONE THING THAT IS CLEAR FROM ALL THIS IS THAT IT IS STILL NECESSARY FOR DENG TO REMAIN IN A SENIOR POSITION IN THE CHINESE LEADERSHIP IN ORDER TO PROTECT, OR LIMIT THE DAMAGE TO, THE REFORM PROGRAMME. AS HE SAID TO TAKESHITA ON 13 JANUARY, "IT SEEMS THAT

I HAVE TO CONTINUE TO WORK ....

THOMSON

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