TNAG-2054-FCO40-2932-Political-activism-accusations-of-subversion-in-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 102

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INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG, PARIS

DEMARCHE BY CHINESE EMBASSY: ACTIVITIES OF FEDERATION FOR

DEMOCRATIC CHINA

1.

COUNSELLOR LIN CALLED ON HEAD OF FED ON 2 MAY TO RAISE THE ACTIVITIES IN THE UK OF THE FEDERATION FOR DEMOCRATIC CHINA (FDC)

IN THE APPROACHING ANNIVERSARY SEASON. LIN SAID THAT THE FDC WAS CARRYING OUT AND PLANNING 'VARIOUS ACTIVITIES' TO MARK THE ANNIVERSARIES OF LAST YEAR'S EVENTS AND THAT CERTAIN FDC FIGURES, INCLUDING LI LU CONE OF THE 21 WANTED LEADING DISSIDENTS) WERE TO

COME TO THE UK TO TAKE PART IN THESE ACTIVITIES. MAKING CLEAR THAT HE WAS SPEAKING ON INSTRUCTIONS, LIN ASKED HMG TO ADOPT THE

'NECESSARY MEASURES IN ACCORDANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL LAW' TO

PREVENT THE UK BEING USED AS A BASE FOR THESE POLITICAL AND SUBVERSIVE ACTIVITIES AGAINST CHINA, AND NOT ALLOW THE FCD MEMBERS TO ENTER THE UK. HE SPECIFICALLY ASKED THAT NEITHER HMG NOR PARLIAMENT SHOULD BECOME INVOLVED IN ANY OF THESE FDC

INSPIRED ACTIVITIES.

2. DAVIES REPLIED ON STANDARD LINES STRESSING THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, EVEN IF THIS WAS UNHELPFUL OR EMBARRASSING TO THIRD COUNTRIES. HE EMPHASISED HOWEVER, AS HE HAD ON 17 APRIL WHEN THE SUBJECT HAD LAST COME UP WITH LIN, THAT WE WOULD TAKE A SERIOUS VIEW OF ANY CRIMINAL ACTIVITY OR THREAT TO PERSONS OR PROPERTY. THE POLICE WOULD, AT OUR REQUEST, TAKE APPROPRIATE MEASURES TO PROTECT THE CHINESE EMBASSY PROPERTY AND PERSONNEL DURING THE RALLY PLANNED FOR 3 JUNE. IF THE CHINESE

HAD ANY EVIDENCE THAT ANY OF THE FDC'S ACTIVITIES FELL INTO THE CRIMINAL OR THREATENING CATEGORY, WE SHOULD BE GLAD TO PASS THIS TO THE POLICE. WE ALSO INDICATED THE PRACTICAL DIFFICULTY OVER STOPPING LI LU AND OTHERS ENTERING THE UK, EVEN IF WE WISHED TO (WHICH WAS UNLIKELY, SO LONG AS THEY WERE COMING TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS IN A PEACEFUL LAW-ABIDING MANNER): MANY OF THE FDC LEADERS WERE TRAVELLING ON INTERNATIONAL LAISSEZ-PASSERS WHICH REQUIRED NO VISAS. WE ASSURED LIN THAT NO MEMBER OF HMG WOULD TAKE PART IN THE ACTIVITIES. BUT MPS WERE OF COURSE FREE TO ACT AS THEY

WISHED.

3. IT IS DIFFICULT TO KNOW WHAT SPARKED THIS DEMARCHE. IT MAY

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