TNAG-2605-FCO40-3793-Detention-of-Hong-Kong-residents-in-China-1992 — Page 101

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FM FCO

TO DESKBY 02020OZ PEKING

TELNO 364

OF 01163OZ MAY 92

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

CONFIDENTIAL

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MDHOAN 3842

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HONG KONG: FOR POLITICAL ADVISER

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YOUR TELNOS 615 AND 616 AND HONG KONG TELNO T191: MR BOB PARRY MP

SUMMARY

DETENTION OF

1. LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN PRESS COVERAGE. CHINESE EMBASSY DECLINE TO PROVIDE FURTHER EXPLANATIONS. URGED TO THINK AGAIN.

DETAIL

2.

YOU SPOKE WELL TO SONG MINGJIANG. WE ARE ALSO VERY GRATEFUL TO YOUR STAFF FOR THEIR EXCEPTIONAL EFFORTS TO ESTABLISH THE FACTS, TO SEEK CONTACT WITH THE DETAINED GROUP, AND TO KEEP US REGULARLY INFORMED.

3.

WE HAVE FAXED TO YOU BRITISH PRESS COVERAGE WHICH HAS BEEN LARGELY FACTUAL WITH SOME EMPHASIS ON THE FIRM POSITION TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT.

I

4 NEWS DEPARTMENT WILL TAKE THE FOLLOWING LINE IN REPLY TO FURTHER ENQUIRIES:

5.

PLEASED THAT MR PARRY HAS BEEN RELEASED.

MADE OUR VIEWS ON THIS INCIDENT VERY CLEAR TO THE CHINESE HÉRE AND IN PEKING.

WE AWAIT A RESPONSE FROM THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES.

HU CHUANZHONG, COUNSELLOR CHINESE EMBASSY, TELEPHONED HEAD OF FED IN MID-AFTERNOON ON 1 MAY. HE SAID THAT YANG GUIRONG (SIC), DIRECTOR OF WEST EUROPEAN AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT, MFA HAD MET YOU AND HAD EXPRESSED THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT'S POSITION ON THIS INCIDENT. MR PARRY HAD NOW LEFT CHINA. AMBASSADOR MA THEREFORE DID NOT INTEND TO CALL ON MR GOODLAD TO FOLLOW UP THEIR DISCUSSION, SINCE THE CHINESE POSITION HAD ALREADY BEEN EXPLAINED TO US.

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