TNAG-1990-FCO40-2823-Broadcasting-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 82

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 04043OZ FCO

TELNO 397

OF 04035OZ FEBRUARY 89

INFO DESKBY 04050OZ PEKING

(12)

CONFIDENTIAL

TOP COPY Q DIST ?

Hicp 30612

057752

MDHIAN 1162

FCO FOR RESIDENT CLERK

XD

YOUR TELNO 326: FILM CENSORSHIP: ''IF I WERE FOR REAL''

1. POLITICAL ADVISER TOOK ACTION ON 4 FEBRUARY WITH LI RUOHE OF

NCNA CIN ABSENCE OF JI SHAOXIANG). HE SPOKE AS IN PARA 10 OF MY

TELNO 319 AS AMENDED BY PEKING TELNO 126 AND YOUR TELNO 304.

2. LI TOOK NOTE AND UNDERTOOK TO REPORT. HE ASKED FOR CONFIRMATION

THAT THE FILM DISTRIBUTOR WAS BEING INFORMED TODAY. HE SAID THAT HIS PERSONAL VIEW WAS THAT IT WOULD BE ''MORE PRUDENT'' IF THE

NOTIFICATION TO THE DISTRIBUTOR WERE DELAYED UNTIL THE CHINESE

AUTHORITIES HAD HAD TIME TO REACT.

3. POLITICAL ADVISER MADE CLEAR THAT THE DECISION HAD BEEN TAKEN

AND THAT WE COULD NOT DELAY PASSING IT ON. THE PURPOSE OF THE DISCUSSION WITH LI WAS TO EXPLAIN THE BACKGROUND TO THE DECISION

IN THE LIGHT OF PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES.

COMMENT

4. GIVEN THE CHINESE NEW YEAR IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THE CHINESE WILL

REACT BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS BUT IN THE LIGHT OF LI'S REMARKS WE WOULD NOT TOALLY RULE THIS OUT IF THEY MOVE QUICKLY. IF THEY DO, WE SHALL STICK TO THE AGREED LINE, DEPLOYING THE ADDITIONAL POINTS IN PARA 11 OF MY TELNO 319 AS NECESSARY.

NOTE FOR RESIDENT CLERK

5. NO NEED TO INFORM DEPARTMENT BEFORE MONDAY UNLESS FURTHER

DEVELOPMENTS REPORTED FROM HERE OR PEKING.

WILSON

YYYY

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