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INFO IMMEDIATE HKGO LONDON
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767453
MOHOAN 9440
YOUR TELNO 1235:
EDITORIAL IN THE INDEPENDENT ON HONG KONG
1. WE HAVE FAXED TO PS/GH THE TEXT OF AN EDITORIAL ON HONG KONG WHICH APPEARED IN TODAY'S INDEPENDENT. IT CONTAINS A NUMBER OF QUESTIONABLE ASSERTIONS, THE MOST STRIKING OF WHICH IS THE VIEW, FALSELY ATTRIBUTED TO A SENIOR OFFICIAL OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, THAT THE 1987 QUESTIONNAIRE ON DIRECT ELECTIONS WAS QUOTE UNDULY COMPLICTED UNQUOTE. THIS WAS OF COURSE ONE OF THE POINTS IN AN ARTICLE IN HONG KONG WHICH APPEARED IN THE
INDEPENDENT OF 18 APRIL.
2. IT SEEMS TO US THAT THERE MAY BE A CASE FOR TAKING SWIFT ACTION TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT BEFORE THE IDEA BEGINS TO TAKE ROOT. IF YOU THOUGHT THAT THIS WOULD BE APPROPRIATE, THE BEST WAY OF DOING SO MIGHT BE BY MEANS OF A LETTER TO THE INDEPENDENT, PERHAPS FROM THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE HERE. WE HAVE ALREADY REMONSTRATED WITH THE EDITORIAL STAFF OF THE INDEPENDENT AND WOULD BE PREPARED TO RETURN TO THE CHARGE IF YOU WOULD LIKE US TO DO SO.
3. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS.
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