CONFIDENTIAL
HAIR OMH
Parede
020034 87
MDHIAN 6235
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2627
OF 040952Z NOVEMBER 92
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
this 017/783
OUR TELNO 92: SUNDAY TIMES ARTICLE
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TODAY'S EDITION OF TA KUNG PAO CARRIES AN ARTICLE WHICH PURPORTS TO EXPLAIN THE BACKGROUND TO THE FINAL TWO PARAGRAPHS OF JON SWAIN'S ARTICLE IN THE SUNDAY TIMES ON 1 NOVEMBER.
2. ACCORDING TO TA KUNG PAO, THE SOURCE FOR THE STORY WAS A MEMBER OF LORD PRIOR'S RECENT TRADE MISSION TO CHINA. THE WRITER
STATES:
QUOTE THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS DAMAGE SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS WAS THE MAIN SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION AT A DINNER PARTY GIVEN BY SIR ROBIN MCLAREN FOR LORD PRIOR'S TRADE MISSION. ACCORDING TO SOMEONE PRESENT AT THE DINNER, SIR ROBIN DISCLOSED THE CONTENT OF HIS REPORT TO LONDON. QUOTE
THE WRITER GOES ON TO EXPLAIN THAT A MEMBER OF THE TRADE MISSION BRIEFED JON SWAIN IN HONG KONG ON FRIDAY OR SATURDAY.
COMMENT
3. THIS EXPLANATION IS CONSISTENT WITH JON SWAIN'S REMARKS TO HANSON, WHICH WERE REPORTED IN TUR I.E. THAT THE STORY CAME FROM QUOTE A NON-HONG KONG GOVERNMENT SOURCE IN HONG KONG. UNQUOTE. THE STORY WAS PICKED UP BY THE PRESS HERE ON 2 AND 3 NOVEMBER BUT WAS BEGINNING TO FADE FOR WANT OF NEW INFORMATION. THE LEFT WING PRESS, ANXIOUS TO EXPLOIT EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERMINE SUPPORT FOR MY PROPOSALS, HAVE NOW MANAGED TO GIVE THE STORY A NEW LEASE OF LIFE.
PATTEN
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