TNAG-2054-FCO40-2932-Political-activism-accusations-of-subversion-in-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 104

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051104

MDHIAN 8741

HKE OGO / 1

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 1412

OF 01103OZ MAY 90

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG, SINGAPORE

YOUR TELNO 875 (NOW REPEATED TO SINGAPORE): GODDESS OF DEMOCRACY

1. THE SITUATION IN TAIWAN DOES INDEED APPEAR TO BE SOMEWHAT CONFUSED. AN ARTICLE IN THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST ON 1 MAY

QUOTES THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE EXECUTIVE YUAN'S INFORMATION OFFICE AS SAYING THAT THE TAIWAN GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT CHANGE ITS ATTITUDE BECAUSE OF CHINESE THREATS. EARLIER, THE TAIWAN COMMUNICATIONS MINISTER HAD SAID THAT THE SHIP WOULD BE ALLOWED TO ENTER KEELUNG. HOWEVER, THE DIRECTOR OF THE KMT OVERSEAS DEPARTMENT IS QUOTED AS SAYING THAT TAIWAN MUST TAKE THE SITUATION ACROSS THE

STRAITS INTO SERIOUS CONSIDERATION AND THAT FURTHER STUDIES WOULD

BE MADE ON WHETHER THE SHIP COULD DOCK IN TAIWAN.

2. APART FROM TELLING THE CHINESE THAT THE SHIP WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO COME TO HONG KONG, WE HAVE STATED ON THE RECORD TO THE PRESS HERE THAT THERE IS NO QUESTION OF IT BROADCASTING FROM THE TERRITORY. THAT WOULD BE CONTRARY TO OUR TELECOMMUNICATIONS REGULATIONS. WE HAVE ALSO TOLD THE PRESS IN BACKGROUND BRIEFING THAT WE HAVE THE POWER TO REFUSE APPLICATIONS TO ENTER HONG KONG WATERS, AND THIS HAS APPEARED IN THE MEDIA (E.G. THE HONG KONG STANDARD OF 21 MARCH REPORTING THAT THE VESSEL WOULD BE DENIED

ENTRY AND MUST STAY OFFSHORE).

3. WE WOULD CERTAINLY BE VERY INTERESTED IN ANY FURTHER INFORMATION

YOU OR SINGAPORE (TO WHOM WE ARE COPYING TUR) ARE ABLE TO GLEAN.

WILSON

YYYY

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