TNAG-2769-FCO40-3986-Hong-Kong-and-the-media-interviews--press-briefings-and-the--1994 — Page 141

RK H SYNC Scott

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Chinese border WT12

PTC

Well, obviously I can't talk about the Scott Enquiry, because it's virtually subjudice still. All I can say is that the service does regard the protection of their agents and their sources as of the highest importance, and they always say to agents we and you are not above the law. They're warned of that. However, if an issue arises, for instance where the prosecution want the papers on somebody who has a connetion, they are provided, and where it's appropriate and it is sometimes so that service does not fail to put in a plea in mitigation, a kind of character reference, but that's as far as it can go. Because we aren't above the law.

One hour from Hong Kong island - and the border with China where MI6 has another urgent requrement. The British government - despite being the third largest arms dealer in the world, is trying to make sense of China's countless ambiguities in the field of major weaponry. Up here much has changed in only five years.

This is as close as Britain gets to China but when you look across the border but gone are their peasants and paddy fields in their place the Hong Kong look alike town of Shinzfane symbol of China's agressive new capitalism. The Republic may still profit from humble market produce but China has also learnt that there is still big money to be

made from the sale of the modern

ballistic missiles and it is this

irresponsibility which is upsetting the

wests attempts of arms control and limitation.

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