TNAG-2605-FCO40-3793-Detention-of-Hong-Kong-residents-in-China-1992 — Page 26

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FM PEKING

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 1495

OF 280303Z OCTOBER 92

AND TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

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Mtv Morais.

179

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MDHIAN 5156

dragt attached 28/10 The Barnes Jones has

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28/10

میں

ARREST OF HONG KONG JOURNALIST

1.

WE HAVE RECEIVED A FAX MESSAGE FROM AN ORGANISATION CALLED THE ''COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS'' ASKING A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ARREST OF

AND THE LEVEL OF CONSULAR ASSISTANCE WE

CAN PROVIDE IN SUCH CASES. THE COMMITTEE, WHOSE BOARD OF DIRECTORS INCLUDES SUCH FIGURES AS WALTER CRONKITE AND DAN RATHER, HAS BEEN ASKED TO LOOK INTO THE CASE BY EMILY LAU. TEXT OF THE MESSAGE

FOLLOWS BY FAX.

2. SUBJECT TO YOUR VIEWS, WE THINK IT WOULD BE BEST NOT TO GO INTO THE SPECIFIC DIFFICULTIES WE FACE WHEN COPING WITH THE FACT THAT HONG KONG PEOPLE WITHOUT FULL BRITISH CITIZENSHIP AND TRAVELLING IN CHINA ON OTHER TYPES OF DOCUMENT ARE TREATED AS CHINESE CITIZENS BY THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES. IF YOU AGREE, WE PROPOSE TO SEND A SHORT REPLY SAYING SIMPLY THAT WE DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO PROTECT HONG KONG RESIDENTS WHEN THEY GET INTO DIFFICULTIES WHEN TRAVELLING IN CHINA.

MCLAREN

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18

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HKD

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DISTRIBUTION

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