TNAG-1879-FCO40-2670-Student-demonstrations-and-internal-political-situation-in-C-1989 — Page 149

UNCLASSIFIED

HKB 020/14.

UNCLASSIFIED

FM SHANGHAI

TO DESKBY 14090OZ FCO

TELNO 63

OF 140815Z JUNE 1989

AND TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, BTC HONG KONG, PEKING

(102)

KY

103

010460 MDHIAN 9170

Enteropa.

ерновой

YOUR TELNO 43:

1.

I TOOK FURTHER ACTION THIS AFTERNOON, EMPHASISING THE DANGER OF REACTIONS IN HONG KONG IF THE PUBLIC SENSED NO NEWS MEANT NO EARLY AND SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME (IE RETURN TO HONG KONG) WAS LIKELY. WHAT WAS KNOWN FROM THE FAMILY OF YAO'S CHARACTER MADE IT CLEAR THAT A FAMILY VISIT MIGHT BE CRUCIAL TO A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME. UNLESS VERY EARLY RELEASE WAS IN PROSPECT, A FAMILY VISIT WAS PROBABLY THE ONLY WAY TO ACHIEVE AN OUTCOME WHICH WAS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF ALL CONCERNED. THE CONCERNS OF HMG RELATED TO VERY MAJOR ISSUES AND I HOPED THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES WOULD HAVE AVAILABLE FROM THEIR OWN SOURCES ACCURATE INFORMATION ABOUT THE MOOD IN HONG KONG. RUMOURS COULD CAUSE IMMENSE DAMAGE WHEN THERE WAS NO NEWS AND WHEN PEOPLE WERE WORRIED AND ANGRY. THE BEST WAY TO PREVENT THIS WOULD BE IF THE FAMILY COULD SAY THEY HAD HAD GOOD NEWS.

ORR

YYYY

DISTRIBUTION

193

ΜΑΙΝ

182

.CHINA POLITICAL

LIMITED

FED

NEWS DEPT

INFO DEPT

PUSD

RESEARCH DEPT

ECD (E)

HKD

SEAD

SAD

RID

SPD

POD

PRU

RMD

DEFENCE D

COD

PS

PS/MRS CHALKER

PS/LORD GLENARTHUR

PS/MR WALDEGRAVE

PAGE

1

UNCLASSIFIED