CONFIDENTIAL
нко
09111
2
133044
MDHIAN 6591
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1723
OF 26120OZ MAY 89
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, WASHINGTON, SEOUL
CONFIDENCE
HONG KONG MOOD
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
1. EVENTS IN CHINA HAVE SEVERELY AFFECTED MOOD AND CONFIDENCE IN HONG
KONG. EARLY FEELINGS OF SYMPATHY WITH THE PEKING STUDENTS' DESIRE FOR DIALOGUE WITH CHINESE LEADERS QUICKLY TOOK ON EMOTIONAL AND PATRIOTIC OVERTONES AS NUMBERS SWELLED IN TIANANMEN SQUARE AND AS IT BECAME APPATENT THAT THE AUTHORITIES WERE STONEWALLING. THE 26 APRIL HARD LINE EDITORIAL IN PEOPLE'S DAILY AND SUBSEQUENT GOVERNMENT ACTION INCREASED SYMPATHY AND EMOTION HERE WHICH CULMINATED IN THE LARGE SCALE BUT PEACEFUL AND WELL ORDERED DEMONSTRATIONS FROM 20 MAY ONWARDS.
2. THOSE TAKING PART HAVE COME FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE. ACCORDING TO FEEDBACK REPORTS AND A RECENT SURVEY CONDUCTED FOR THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, THE DEMONSTRATORS' FOREMOST PURPOSE WAS TO EXPRESS SYMPATHY AND SOLIDARITY WITH THE STUDENTS IN PEKING BASED ON A SENSE OF COMMON CHINESE IDENTITY. HIGH ON THE LIST OF OTHER REASONS WAS THE DESIRE TO SEE A MORE LIBERAL SYSTEM IN CHINA AND IN HONG KONG. THE HEAVY OVERLAY OF EMOTION AND ITS SUDDEN RELEASE RESULTED IN THE
LARGE CROWDS WITNESSED SO FAR.
3. AS THE PERCEPTION GREW THAT LI PENG WAS THE CHIEF VILLAIN SO DID THE CALLS FOR HIS REMOVAL. MANY NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENTS EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE STUDENTS WERE TAKEN OUT BY GROUPS FROM ALL WALKS, INCLUDING MAINLAND ORGANISATIONS. A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF EUPHORIA CREPT
IN WHEN IT WAS BELIEVED THAT LI WOULD HAVE TO STEP DOWN AND THAT ZHAO ZIYANG WOULD RE-EMERGE WITH A MODERATE AND REFORMIST PROGRAMME. A VICTORY DEMONSTRATION WAS PLANNED FOR THE EVENING OF 24 MAY: IT DULY TOOK PLACE BUT WITH NO SIGN OF THE ANTICIPATED VICTORY CONCENTRATED ON FURTHER ATTACKS ON LI PENG.
4. WITH PROGRESSIVELY HARDER LINE MEDIA STATEMENTS IN PEKING
REFERRING TO THE STUDENT MOVEMENT AS A DISTURBANCE AND SOME REPORTS
SAYING THAT THE TERM QUOTE COUNTER REVOLUTIONARIES UNQUOTE HAD BEEN USED THE EUPHORIA TURNED TO DISMAY AND GREAT CONCERN. WE HAVE
DISCERNED A NOTE OF CAUTION IN TALK SHOWS AND IN SOME NEWSPAPERS
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CONFIDENTIAL
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