TNAG-2769-FCO40-3986-Hong-Kong-and-the-media-interviews--press-briefings-and-the--1994 — Page 209

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MDHIAN 8661

THE MING PAO CHAIRMAN'S UNDERSTANDABLE MOTIVES IN MAKING COMMENTS FAVOURABLE TO THE CHINESE POSITION, THESE HAVE SERIOUSLY UNDERMINED THE PAPER'S INDEPENDENCE. THIS, IT IS PLAUSIBLY ARGUED, WILL ACT

AS A FURTHER DETERRENT TO HONEST REPORTING OF CHINESE AFFAIRS BY

HONG KONG NEWSPAPERS.

6. WE AGREE WITH PEKING (SECOND TUR PARA 1) THAT OUR FORMAL LOCUS FOR RAISING CASES OF THIS KIND, AT LEAST AS SEEN BY THE CHINESE, IS THIN. REALISTICALLY, EXPERIENCE SUGGESTS THAT THE CHINESE ARE UNLIKELY TO MAKE CONCESSIONS ON SUCH CASES SIMPLY IN RESPONSE TO PRESSURE FROM US, UNLESS THIS SUITS THEM FOR OTHER REASONS. BUT FOR PRESENTATIONAL REASONS HERE, WE CANNOT AFFORD TO EXPOSE OURSELVES TO ACCUSATIONS THAT, IN OUR OWN EFFORTS TO HELP, WE DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF HONG KONG RESIDENT.

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