TNAG-2236-FCO40-3215-Hong-Kong-and-China-subversion-and-student-demonstrations-1991 — Page 51

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THE SHOOTING AT THE NCNA BUILDING.

4.

ROGAN UNDERTOOK TO REPORT THE CHINESE DEMARCHE. ON A PERSONAL BASIS SHE REPLIED ON STANDARD LINES: THERE WAS FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION WITHIN THE LAW IN HONG KONG: THE NECESSARY APPLICATIONS HAD BEEN MADE FOR THE RALLY: THE BRITISH SIDE HAD NO INTENTION THAT H K BE USED AS A BASE TO SUBVERT CHINA. SHE EXPRESSED SURPRISE THAT WANG HAD RAISED THE SUBJECT OF THE SHOOTING AT THE NCNA BUILDING. SURELY WANG WAS AWARE THAT THIS CASE HAD BEEN SOLVED AND FOUND NOT TO HAVE BEEN POLITICALLY MOTIVATED ? SHE SUGGESTED HE CONTACT THE H K BRANCH OF NCNA WHO HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE OUTCOME OF RHKP'S INVESTIGATIONS. SHE SAID THAT IN ANY CASE SHE UNDERSTOOD THAT RHKP HAD ALREADY AGREED TO PROVIDE

NECESSARY SECURITY MEASURES FOR NCNA.

5.

UNSURPRISINGLY, WANG SAID HE COULD NOT ACCEPT THESE EXPLANATIONS. HE REPATED THAT IF HKG HAD THE WILL TO ACT THE POWER TO DO SO ALREADY EXISTED. THE CHINESE SIDE WAS CONVINCED THAT THE PLANNED ACTIVITIES WOULD EXCEED THE FREEDOMS PROVIDED FOR

UNDER H K LAW AND SHOULD BE PREVENTED.

COMMENT.

6. WANG WAS RELAXED AND CORDIAL. HIS COMMENTS AFTER READING OUT HIS SPEAKING NOTE WERE DELIVERED WITHOUT ANY GREAT EMPHASIS AND

HE AGREED THAT THE TWO SIDES HAD DIFFERENT OPINIONS ON THIS

QUESTION WHICH WERE UNLIKELY TO BE RECONCILED. ALTHOUGH THE

H K ALLIANCE'S DEMONSTRATION ON 3 AUGUST DID NOT PROVOKE A CHINESE COMPLAINT (MOAKES' TELELETTER OF 9 AUGUST TO COX), THE PLANNED RALLY IS FOCUSSED ON CHINA'S NATIONAL DAY AND THEREFORE AN

INEVITABLE CAUSE FOR COMPLAINT.

MCLAREN.

YYYY

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