CONFIDENTIAL
HKBOGO/1
FRE
106045
MDHIAN 2200
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 965
OF 20070OZ MARCH 90
(AMENDED DISTRIBUTION 20/3 GG) CAMENTO 1808STRIBUTION 21/3)
HONG
E
CGISTRY
tion Taken
INFO IMMEDIATE UKREPJLG HONG KONG, BTC HONG KONG, PEKING, PARIS
GODDESS OF DEMOCRACY RADIO SHIP
1. AS YOU ARE AWARE, THE GODDESS OF DEMOCRACY RADIO SHIP HAS LEFT FRANCE AND IS ON ITS WAY TO THIS PART OF THE WORLD WITH THE INTENTION OF BROADCASTING INTO CHINA. I DO NOT/NOT INTEND TO ALLOW IT AND ITS CREW TO ENTER HONG KONG (THROUGH A COMBINATION OF THE SHIPPING AND PORT CONTROL ORDINANCE AND THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE WE HAVE THE POWER TO PREVENT THIS).
2. THE POLITICAL ADVISER HAS TOLD THE ACTING FRENCH CONSUL-GENERAL OF OUR INTENTIONS AND HAS ASKED HIM TO REPORT THESE TO HIS GOVERNMENT. MONTAGNE VOLUNTEERED THAT IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES HE COULD SEE THAT IT WOULD BE BEST IF THE CAPTAIN OF THE SHIP WERE TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO REFUEL AND REPLENISH IN PORTS OTHER THAN HONG KONG.
3. EHRMAN INFORMED JI SHAOXIANG OF NCNA THAT WE HAD TOLD THE FRENCH AUTHORITIES THAT THE SHIP WOULD NOT/NOT BE WELCOME. JI ASKED WHETHER THIS MEANT THAT, IF THE SHIP APPLIED TO ENTER HONG KONG,
IT WOULD NOT BE GIVEN PERMISSION. EHRMAN CONFIRMED THAT THIS WOULD BE THE CASE.
4. IN RESPONSE TO PRESS ENQUIRIES, WE ARE SAYING AT THIS STAGE CONFINING OURSELVES TO SAYING THAT THERE IS NO QUESTION OF THE SHIP BROADCASTING FROM HONG KONG WATERS: THAT WOULD BE CONTRARY TO THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS REGULATIONS: NO APPLICATION HAS BEEN MADE BY THE SHIP TO CALL AT HONG KONG.
5. IF AND WHEN AN APPLICATION IS RECEIVED AND TURNED DOWN, WE WOULD EXPLAIN IN BACKGROUND BRIEFING THAT TO HAVE ALLOWED THE SHIP TO ENTER WOULD RUN COUNTER TO OUR POLICY OF NOT ALLOWING HONG KONG TO BE USED BY OUTSIDERS AS A POLITICAL BATTLEGROUND.
WILSON
PAGE 1 CONFIDENTIAL
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