TNAG-1997-FCO40-2844-Harassment-of-Hong-Kong-businessmen-in-Shanghai-1989 — Page 27

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Hong Kong Department

7 August 1989

PS/Mr Maude

Mr Gillmore

Mr Millington, FED

Mr Denne, Consular Dept

Mr Burns, NAD

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In your minute of 7 August you asked for urgent advice on the suggestion from No 10 that we might make a joint demarche with the Americans at Ambassadorial level in Peking over the harrassment of

two Hong Kong businessmen in Shanghai reported in Peking telno 1743.

2.

I do not think that action at this level, co-ordinated with

the United States, would be warranted at this stage. The

individuals concerned have been questioned, not arrested. Although the possibility of arrests cannot be ruled out, it is also possible

that the affair might blow over. If we were to take the matter up

at Ambassadorial level, it might have the opposite effect from that

We also need to bear in mind that the Americans are in

bad odour in Peking, not least because they are providing sanctuary in their Embassy to a prominent dissident, Fang Lizhi, and his wife.

intended.

3.

I recommend, therefore, that we endorse the course of action

recommended by Sir A Donald, namely that the Embassy should

intervene, initially at desk level, and without coordinating action

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CONFIDENTIAL