TNAG-1997-FCO40-2844-Harassment-of-Hong-Kong-businessmen-in-Shanghai-1989 — Page 5

CONFIDENTIAL

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BRITISH CONSULATE GENERAL 244 Yong Fu Lu Shanghai

#KD 400/6 People's Republic of China

A Lang Esq British Embassy PEKING

1.

Dear Mr. Lang.

Telephone: 375235x

Telex: 33476 BRIT CN

330508

Telegraphic Address: Britain Shanghai

1 August 1989

HKD400/4

CC

cc Mer Cannon,

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you gow ANS

aft

Enclosed is a record of a telephone call received by

one of our LE staff on 28 July.

2.

Alan Attryde, Acting Consul-General, telephoned Mr Leung later the same day to reassure him of our concern and interest. Mr Leung did not sound too worried. This,

of course, was an open telephone line and Alan assured Mr Leung that we would be happy to talk to him in person if he would prefer (he has not taken up the offer).

3.

Despite general rumblings about Hong Kong citizens being in a 'delicate' position (the question was touched upon at a recent OECD commercial luncheon) and a hint of uneasiness on the part of one or two I have spoken to, this is the first case of its kind that has come to our attention. It is distinguished from the case of the recently-arrested US businessman (my letter to Peter Clark of 14 July) by the fact that Mr Leung's summons was not hooked on anything so universally condemnable (!) as illegal business practices. There are, of course, other differences between the two cases: Mr Leung was not 'arrested' as such, and the PSB's chief interest seems to be in his involvement with the actual demonstrations, nothing wider. Nevertheless, the fact that he works for a US company may be significant.

A.

Obviously if Hong Kong citizens working here are having to be on their guard against this sort of thing, the smooth running of a good many commercial enterprises is going to be affected. We have made our Western colleagues aware of the incident, and the US Consul-General has instructed his Vice-Consul (Commercial) to go into the Foreign Affairs Office and explain that this sort of behaviour will damage Shanghai's commercial interests. Meanwhile, we shall keep our eyes and ears open for any further cases, and would be grateful to know of anything similar happening in Beijing.

Yous

Jane Govier (Miss)

CONFIDENTIAL

/cc: