TNAG-1621-FCO40-2235-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-China-1987 — Page 46

GRS 300

UNCLASSIFIED

F:1 PEKING

TO ROUTINE FCO

TELNO 159

OF 021054Z FEBRUARY 87

RA

4/2

भाई

Nk- CRina Relations

Sir D who

HKD

리

21

INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG

MY TELNO.141:

EXPULSION OF AFP JOURNALIST.

112

1. MACDONAL, ACCOMPANIED BY THE AFP REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR ASIA, GEORGE BIANNIC, RETURNED TO PEKING ON 27 JANUARY. BIANNIC TOLD REPORTERS THAT HE WOULD SEEK AN INTERVIEW WITH THE INFORMATION DEPARTMENT OF THE FOREIGN MINISTRY TO ASK THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO RECONSIDER THEIR DECISION TO EXPEL MACDONAL. HE DID SO ON 28 JANUARY. BOTH THE FRENCH AND AMERICAN AMBASSADORS ALSO MADE

THE REPRESENTATIONS BY TELEPHONE RATHER THAN IN A FORMAL CALL. AMERICANS HAVE MADE A FURTHER, FORMAL PROTEST AT COUNSELLOR LEVEL.

2. MACDONAL WAS SUMMONED TO THE PUBLIC SECURITY BUREAU AT 0800 ON 30 JANUARY. AN EXPULSION ORDER WAS READ TO HIM, WHICH HE WAS REQUIRED TO SIGN. HE WS THEN DRIVEN TO THE AIRPORT AND PUT ON THE FIRST FLIGHT TO HONG KONG.

COMMENT.

3. AFP HAVE TOLD US THAT MACDONAL WAS TOLD BY THE INFORMATION DEPARTMENT OF THE FOREIGN MINISTRY THAT HE WOULD BE PERMITTED TO REMAIN UNTIL 3 FEBRUARY TO MAKE THE NECESSARY PERSONAL ARRANGEMENTS. THEY BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOWS THAT THE MINISTRY OF STATE SECURITY, RATHER THAN THE FOREIGN MINISTRY, WERE IN FULL CONTROL OF THE WAY THIS CASE WAS DEALT WITH AND THAT THERE WAS NO QUESTION THAT THE FOREIGN MINISTRY WOULD BE ABLE TO HONOUR THEIR UNDERTAKING.

4. AFP HAVE REPEATEDLY SAID THAT THERE WAS NO TRUTH IN CHINESE ASSERTIONS THAT MACDONALD HAD BEHAVED IN A WAY INCOMPATIBLE WITH HIS STATUS AS A JOURNALIST. THEY FEEL THAT THEY HAVE WON A POINT BECAUSE THEY REFUSED TO TRANSFER HIM AS REQUESTED, AND THE CHINESE

AN ACT WHICH THEIR INITIAL WERE IN THE END FORCED TO EXPEL HIM HANDLING OF THE CASE SUGGESTED THAT THEY WANTED TO AVOID, IN ORDER TO LIMIT THE PUBLICITY INVOLVED.

EVANS

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12 FEB 1937

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INDEX

PEHPAN 3341 MINIMAL

FED NEWS D.