TNAG-2236-FCO40-3215-Hong-Kong-and-China-subversion-and-student-demonstrations-1991 — Page 216

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 292

OF 280715Z JANUARY 91

INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

2

162724

TOP COPY MDLIAN 3976 Q DIST?

HKB OGI

OUR TELNO 286 : NCNA COMPLAINT ABOUT FURTHER HONG KONG ALLIANCE DEMONSTRATION

1. ON 27 JANUARY, YANG YOUYONG OF NCNA RANG THE POLITICAL ADVISER TO MAKE A FURTHER FORMAL REPRESENTATION ABOUT A DEMONSTRATION

ABOUT TO BE HELD BY THE HONG KONG ALLIANCE TO PROTEST AT THE SENTENCES GIVEN TO JUNE 4 ACTIVISTS IN PEKING. THE DEMONSTRATION, WHICH INVOLVED A MARCH FROM CHATER GARDENS TO NCNA WHERE A MOCK- UP OF THE CHINESE CONSTITUTION WAS BURNED, TOOK PLACE BETWEEN 3PM AND 6PM. ABOUT 1,200 PEOPLE WERE INVOLVED. THERE WERE NO INCIDENTS.

2. YANG SAID THAT NCNA HAD LEARNED THAT THIS DEMONSTRATION WAS

ABOUT TO TAKE PLACE. A SIGNATURE CAMPAIGN WAS ALSO TAKING PLACE IN SEVERAL PUBLIC PLACES WHICH WOULD CONTINUE UNTIL THE SPRING FESTIVAL. THE SIGNATURES WERE FOR A PETITION AGAINST THE SENTENCES OF THE 4 JUNE ACTIVISTS. NCNA ALSO KNEW THAT THE HONG KONG ALLIANCE WAS SEEKING SUPPORT FOR THESE ACTIVITIES FROM OVERSEAS ORGANISATIONS. THE TRIALS WERE AN INTERNAL MATTER FOR CHINA. NOBODY COULD INTERFERE WITH THEM. THE ALLIANCE'S ACTIVITIES DEMONSTRATED THAT IT WAS AN ILLEGAL ORGANISATION

TRYING TO OVERTHROW THE CENTRAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT AND THE SOCIALIST SYSTEM. THE HKG SHOULD HONOUR ITS PROMISE OF NOT ALLOWING HONG KONG TO BECOME A BASE FOR SUBVERSION, AND STOP ALLIANCE ACTIVITIES AIMED AT OVERTHROWING THE CPG. I HAD SAID ON MY RECENT VISIT THAT I WANTED TO STRENGTHEN CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE MAINLAND AND HONG KONG IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN HONG KONG'S STABILITY AND PROSPERITY. THE ALLIANCE'S ACTIVITIES WOULD HARM

SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS AND UPSET SOCIAL ORDER IN HONG KONG. THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS WOULD REST WITH THE HKG.

3. EHRMAN REPLIED IN STANDARD TERMS. HE HAS BEEN APPLIED FOR IN THE NORMAL WAY. OUT THEIR DUTIES TO MAINTAIN GOOD ORDER

WILSON

EXPLAINED THAT A LICENCE THE POLICE WOULD CARRY (WHICH THEY DID).