TNAG-2105-FCO40-3000-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-China-Chinese-complaints-abo-1990 — Page 4

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 1007

OF 22120OZ MARCH 90

INFO PRIORITY PEKING

HKC020/2.

27 MAR 1990

DASK GAT

INDEX

(3

REGISTRY

Action Taken

112544

MDLIAN 8579

MY TELNO 979:

•

CHINESE COMPLAINTS ON SUBVERSION

1 THIS LATEST EFFORT BY NCNA TO GET US TO PREVENT COMMEMORATIVE EVENTS IN MAY AND JUNE IS PART OF A PATTERN OF EXCHANGES WITH THE CHINESE, BOTH HERE AND IN PEKING, ON QUOTE SUBVERSION UNQUOTE. CLEARLY THIS SUBJECT CONTINUES TO PREOCCUPY THE UPPER REACHES OF THE CHINESE LEADERSHIP. IT WAS THE ONLY SPECIFIC HONG KONG SUBJECT REFERRED TO BY LI PENG IN HIS WORK REPORT TO THE NPC.

2. WE ARE ABLE TO KEEP OUT, TO THE EXTENT THAT WE SPOT THEM, PRO- DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS FROM ABROAD COMING HERE WITH THE AIM OF USING HONG KONG AS A POLITICAL BATTLEGROUND. WE HAVE DONE SO IN THE CASE OF MEMBERS OF THE NEW YORK-BASED CHINESE ALLIANCE FOR DEMOCRACY AND

INTEND TO DO SO IN THE CASE OF THE GODDESS OF DEMOCRACY RADIO SHIP.

3.

WE WILL DO NOTHING TO ENCOURAGE COMMEMORATIVE DEMONSTRATIONS IN MAY/JUNE. WHEN THEY OCCUR EVERY EFFORT WILL BE MADE TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE PROPERLY POLICED. BUT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO STOP HONG KONG CITIZENS USING THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS TO DEMONSTRATE OR TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS DESPITE THE FACT THAT THESE ARE OFTEN POLITICALLY EMBARRASSING IN TERMS OF RELATIONS WITH CHINA. EVEN IF WE TRIED TO STRETCH OUR EXISTING POWERS IN AN ATTEMPT TO DO SO, THE EFFECT WOULD BE COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE IN TERMS OF MAINTAINING STABILITY IN HONG KONG. INSTEAD OF BEING ABLE TO RELEASE A PRESSURE VALVE WE

SHOULD BUILD UP THE INGREDIENTS OF AN EXPLOSION.

THE CHINESE HABITUALLY OVER-ESTIMATE OUR INFLUENCE TO PERSUADE

ACTIVISTS IN HONG KONG NOT TO DEMONSTRATE. IN NORMAL TIMES THERE IS IN FACT VERY LITTLE PROPENSITY AMONG THE MASS OF THE POPULATION TO

DO SO. NOR IS THERE MUCH SYMPATHY FOR RADICAL ORGANISERS. THE RALLY

AFTER THE FALL OF CEAUSESCU ON 1 JANUARY ONLY DREW ABOUT 10,000 (COMPARED TO RALLIES OF ABOUT 500,000 LAST JUNE). BUT WE MUST EXPECT RALLIES AND GATHERINGS ON AND AROUND 4 JUNE (DETAILS OF

WHICH WE HAVE REPORTED SEPARATELY TO YOU) TO BE SIZEABLE. TO EXPECT

OTHERWISE WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY BE TO UNDER-ESTIMATE THE DEPTH OF

FEELING WHICH REMAINS HERE ABOUT THE EVENTS IN PEKING OF A YEAR

1

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CONFIDENTIAL