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to have about 2,600 members and to represent all students from the
PRC (ie excluding Hong Kong) in the UK. It has a quasi-official
status in that it was set up with the encouragement of the Chinese
Embassy.. The British Council regard the Association as the most
representative student body. The Council have given the Association
limited financial support for a magazine. They talk to the
Association about matters affecting Chinese students in Britain.
Despite its quasi official status the Association has criticised the
action of the Chinese authorities in suppressing the demonstrations
in Peking. During the weekend the leadership of the Association met
to reconstitute their organisation. They apparently intend to
sharpen their criticism of the Chinese authorities.
The
4. The group calling itself "All Chinese Students in the UK" has
not previously come to the attention of the British Council.
group have given as their contact a Mr T Yakup. He is of Xinjian national minority origin. Since his arrival in Britain, Mr Yakup
has become increasingly involved in Xinjiang nationalist politics.
Among Chinese students he is regarded as an extremist. He is self-appointed in his claim to speak for all Chinese students in the
UK. The Chinese Students and Scholars Association have told the
British Council that they do not wish to be associated with his
appeal to the Prime Minister.
:
ARGUMENT
5. Chinese students in Britain have every reason to be concerned about developments in China. British public opinion is likewise
outraged at the brutality with which the Chinese authorities have
put down the student demonstrations in Peking. If the Prime Minister were to receive a group of Chinese students, it would demonstrate graphically both to public opinion in Britian and to the
Chinese authorities that the British Government condemn the use of
force against peaceful demonstrators.
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