TNAG-1622-FCO40-2236-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-China-1987 — Page 194

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AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSION

INWARD CABLEGRAM,

DDEN EL A L I DEN I 1 AL VEDEN

5-0.8J19328

LAL

MORNING OR AT MOST TWICE A WEEK TO STUDY AND DISCUSS IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS. THESE SESSIONS WERE HELD IN A RELAXED OPEN ATMOSPHERE WITH INDIVIDUALS EXPRESSING THEIR VIEWS NATURALLY. THERE WAS NONE OF THE ACRIMONY AND PERSONAL CRITICISM WHICH CHARACTERISED MEETINGS

DURING THE CULTURAL REVOLUTION.

CULTURE (UNDERLINED)

10. MAO'S YENAN TALKS ON CULTURE (0.8J18690) HAD BEEN RECENT Y QUOTED IN SOME ARTICLES IN THE CONTEXT OF SOME WRITERS BECOMING DETACHED FROM THE LIFE OF THE PEOPLE, REFUSING TO IDENTIFY THEM- SELVES WITH THE SPIRIT OF REFORM AND SIMPLY CREATING WORKS IN THE SECLUSION OF THEIR STUDIES.

IT WAS THE PARTY'S HOPE THAT WRITERS AND ARTISTS COULD REFLECT THE CONDITIONS OF REAL LIFE AND GIVE EXPRESSION TO REFORM AND CHINA'S SOCIAL ACHIEVEMENTS.

MASS MEDIA (UNDERLINE ALL)

11. LI DEMURRED AT THE SUGGESTION THAT THERE HAD BEEN NOTICEABLE CHANGE IN THE CONTENT AND STYLE OF PRESS REPORTAGE. HE SAID IT WAS PERHAPS CORRECT THAT THE NUMBER OF ARTICLES OPENLY ADDOCATING ULTRA-DEMOCRACY HAD BEEN REDUCED, BUT THAT THIS WAS ONLY A RESTRICTION AT THE MARGINS OF MAIN-LINE NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL COVERAGE.

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IT INVOLVED A REDUCTION IN ARTICLES ADVOCATING THAT PEOPLE'S ONLY AIM SHOULD BE MAKING MONEY. THAT RELATIONS BETWEEN PARTY AND PEOPLE SHOULD BE ORGANISED AS A COMMUNITY EXCHANGE.,

ADVOCATING TOTAL WESTERNISATION, THE NEED TO CHANGE FUNDAMENTALLY THE SYSTEM OF OWNERSHIP AND THE NEED FOR AN OVERT OPPOSITION,

INCLUDING WITHIN THE COMMUNIST PARTY. THESE ARTICLES, WRITTEN BY A SMALL BUT ACTIVE MINORITY, WERE NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE

IDEAL OF BUILDING A STRONG SOCIALIST COUNTRY WITH CHINESE CHARACTERISTICS.

COMMENT (UNDERLINED)

LI YAN'S COMMENTS WERE AN UNEQUIVOCAL REITERATION OF SUPPORT FOR THE PRINCIPLE OF ECONOMIC REFORM.

1

IS

THEY OFFER A CLOSER AND AUTHORITATIVE DEFINITION OF WHAT MEANT BY ''STRUGGLE IN THE PRESENT CONTEXT LE ESSENTIALLY

SEVERE CRITICISM'' OF NARROWLY DEFINED OFFENCES THAT WILL STOP WELL SHORT OF THE SORT OF ABUSE METED OUT DURING PREVIOUS CAMPAIGNS. IN CONDUCTING THE STRUGGLE, LI ALSO SUGGESTED THAT THE NARROW DEFINITION OF BOURGEOIS LIBERALISATION WAS INTENDED TO LIMIT VERY STRICHY THE

CON) DUENDIAL..

CON*- I DEN I QONFIDENTIAL

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