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FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
TELNO 60
OF 1210OOZ APRIL 89
INFO IMMEDIATE FCO
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HKB 020/6 TOP COPY
Q DIST ?
46
143441
MDHIAN 0409
btw 13/iv
PRESS REPORT : YAO YILIN TO TAKE OVER FROM ZHAO ZIYANG
SCMP OF 12 APRIL REPORTS THAT YAO YILIN IS 'LIKELY TO BECOME THE NEXT GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE CCP ACCORDING TO ''CHINESE SOURCES,' WITH ZHAO PROBABLY BEING COMPENSATED WITH THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE PARTY'S MILITARY COMMISSION. ACCORDING TO THE SOURCES DENG COULD MOVE ASIDE FOR ZHAO EITHER AT THE 4TH OR 5TH PLENUM TO BE HELD AFTER THE PARTY'S BEIDAIHE CONFERENCE.
2. SOURCES SAY ALSO THAT DENG WILL ONLY RETIRE FROM THE CENTRAL MILITARY COMMISSION TO MAKE WAY FOR ZHAO IF THE CENTRAL ADVISORY COMMISSION IS DISOLVED. THE PAPER REPORTS ''ANALYISTS'' VIEW THAT DENG TRIED TO RESIST THE IDEA OF REPLACING ZHAO WITH YAO. THE PEPER SAID THAT DENG CONSIDERED THAT ''DIVISION OF LABOUR IS BETTER''. THIS MEANT APPARENTLY THAT HE FELT THAT THE PARTY AND THE STATE COUNCIL SHOULD BE HEADED BY LEADERS OF DIFFERENT PARTY FACTIONS. HOWEVER, THE REPORT CLAIMS THAT DENG HAS BEEN CONVINCED BY ZHAO'S CRITICS THAT THE CAMPAIGN TO ''CURE AND RECTIFY THE ECONOMY '' WILL WORK BETTER IF THE PARTY AND GOVERNMENT ARE HEADED BY LIKE-MINDED LEADERS.
3. NO OTHER PAPERS HAVE CARRIED THIS STORY BUT THE APRIL ISSUE OF ZHENG MING CARRIES A VERY SIMILAR REPORT. IN FACT IT IS LIKELY THAT THE SCMP STORY IS BASED ON THAT IN ZHENG MING. WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD SHED SOME LIGHT ON THESE REPORTS. ON THE FACT IF IT THEY APPEAR HIGHLY SPECULATIVE, BUT EVEN IF TRUE, THE TRANSFER OF ZHAO TO HEAD THE MILITARY COMMISSION WOULD NOT APPEAR BY ANY MEANS A DEMOTION.
WILSON
YYYY
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