TNAG-2605-FCO40-3793-Detention-of-Hong-Kong-residents-in-China-1992 — Page 98

CONFIDENTIAL

155042

MDADAN 8613

OVERALL,

MILES FELT THAT THE CHINESE HAD TAKEN ABOARD SOME MODEST LESSONS ABOUT THE HANDLING OF FOREIGN PROTESTORS AFTER THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH THE CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS. HE DOES NOT ANTICIPATE ANY FURTHER ACTION AGAINST HIM.

3 =

THERE IS LITTLE ENTHUSIASM AMONG MY EUROPEAN COLLEAGUES FOR COLLECTIVE ACTION (PARAGRAPH 8 OF YOUR TUR) AND I RECOMMEND THAT WE NOW DRAW A LINE UNDER THIS INCIDENT. JIANG ENZHU'S WORDS TO ME ON 2 MAY ARE AS NEAR TO AN APOLOGY FOR NOT BEING AVAILABLE TO SEE ME AS WE ARE LIKELY TO GET. WE WOULD NOT BE ON STRONG GROUND IF WE WERE TO PRESS FOR A FURTHER RESPONSE ON ACCESS TO MR PARRY SINCE EVEN IF HE HAD BEEN ARRESTED, THE CHINESE WOULD STRICTLY SPEAKING ONLY HAVE BEEN OBLIGED TO PROVIDE ACCESS AFTER HE HAD BEEN HELD FOR 24 HOURS. AS REGARDS INFORMATION, THE CHINESE DO HAVE THE (IN PART GENUINE) EXCUSE THAT 30 APRIL WAS THE EVE OF A MAJOR CHINESE HOLIDAY.

MCLAREN

YYYY

ADVANCE

11

PS

PS/MR LENNOX-BOYD

PS/MR GOODLAD

SIR J COLES

MR BURNS

FED//HD

NNNN

DISTRIBUTION

11

HKD // HD

CONSULAR D//HD

PRU//HD

NEWS D//HD

RESIDENT CLERK

2

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CONFIDENTIAL