TNAG-1871-FCO40-2659-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-China-1989 — Page 72

CONFIDENTIAL

0365

MDHIAN 03

4.

(C)

(D)

(E)

(F)

(G)

TO PROVIDE MAXIMUM FACILITIES FOR HONG KONG GOODS VEHICLES USING THE CROSSING POINTS:

TO INVESTIGATE THE BAD ATTITUDE OF STAFF AT THE BORDER

CROSSING POINTS:

TO PERMIT DRIVERS TO TELEPHONE THE MAYOR OF SHENZHEN WITH THEIR COMPLAINTS:

TO INSTALL A COMPLAINTS BOX: AND

TO PERMIT DRIVERS TO LIAISE DIRECT WITH THE HEADS OF SHENZHEN DEPARTMENTS SUCH AS PORT ADMINISTRATION AND CUSTOMS.

TRAFFIC FLOW BEGAN TO RETURN TO NORMAL LATE SATURDAY EVENING. WE KEPT THE CROSSING POINT OPEN ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT TO CLEAR THE BACKLOG. THERE WAS SOME SYMPATHETIC ACTION IN HONG KONG DURING THE INCIDENT. ONE GROUP OF DRIVERS SET OUT TO DRIVE TO THE NCNA OFFICE IN HAPPY VALLEY, BUT LATER CHANGED THEIR MINDS. ANOTHER GROUP DROVE TO AN NCNA SUB-OFFICE IN SHATIN AND HAD A MEETING WITH TWO NCNA OFFICIALS. THESE OFFICIALS GAVE ASSURANCES THAT A SENIOR NCNA OFFICIAL OFFICIAL WOULD GO TO SHENZHEN TO RELAY THEIR

GRIEVANCES.

5. IMMEDIATE LIAISON AT THE BORDER WORKED REASONABLY WELL. ACTION ON OUR SIDE TO KEEP THE BORDER OPEN ALL NIGHT PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN DEFUSING WHAT COULD HAVE BECOME A VERY NASTY INCIDENT.

6.

PA IS INVITING NCNA TO A MEETING TOMMORROW. HE WILL EXPRESS CONCERN OVER THE AFFAIR AND ASK FOR A FULL BRIEFING ON THE BACKGROUND AS WELL AS ON WHAT ACTION THE CHINESE PLAN TO TAKE TO PREVENT A RECURRENCE.

WILSON

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