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see (18
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26 MAR 1991
9 på permalin
NCNA PERSONAL CHANGES: CHEN RONGCHUN
20
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APA (G)
2. DPA
K
HK Tel no. 735 (attached) reminded me that Industry
Department paid a visit to Quanzhou, amongst other places in Fujin province, in February 1989. I talked to people who took part in the visit, and have come up with the following
observations on Chen for what they are worth as a comparison of
the man pre and post-June 1989.
2.
Quanzhou was a free-wheeling City which gave the appearance of being less controlled than most. It was perhaps comparable to Guangzhou in atmosphere. The briefings Industry
Dept received from the Mayor and those who worked for him,
indicated that local authorities were pursuing Reform Policies
aggressively. The Mayor said that the municipality's
development had only been slightly affected by the austerity
programme of the central Government. He indicated that there
were ways around it. The delegation got the impression that
Chen was in the then main stream reform faction. This may of
course be an example of swimming with the tide, as the visit
took place at a time when conservative voices were muted, but
as Chen is reported to have close links with Zhou Nan this is
interesting.
3.
As an individual the Mayor was apparently very forth- coming on a number of issues. At the banquet in honour of the Director of Industry he presided over a discussion of the
cultural revolution and the damage which it had done to China. The line was very much that China had improved and it was
possible talk freely with "Foreign Friends".
4.
Looff=13
The Mayor was well briefed about the historical background of his City. He was also not averse to exploiting the system in its favour. For example the delegation were told
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