TNAG-2769-FCO40-3986-Hong-Kong-and-the-media-interviews--press-briefings-and-the--1994 — Page 215

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DID NOT EXPECT TO DO MUCH WRITING HIMSELF (QUOTE IT WOULD ONLY BE A

HOBBY UNQUOTE).

4.

OUR CONTACTS WITH FU IN RECENT YEARS HAVE NOT BEEN EXTENSIVE. BUT WE KNOW THAT HE HAS BEEN HELD IN REASONABLY HIGH REGARD BY THE PROFESSION, INCLUDING BY THE FOREIGN PRESS (INSOFAR AS THE LATTER GO ALONG WITH THE CONSTRAINTS IMPOSED BY FU, WHO ALSO HELD THE INFLUENTIAL POST OF HEAD OF THE MEDIA DIVISION OF THE INFORMATION MINISTRY). HE COMES OVER AS AN AMIABLE AND UNASSUMING FIGURE. AT THE SAME TIME HE WILL OF COURSE, REMAIN VERY CLOSE TO HIS FORMER MASTER AND WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY SYMPATHISE WITH HIS VIEWS ON MOST ISSUES. WHILE THERE IS NO SUGGESTION OF ANY SINISTER PURPOSE BEHIND FU'S MOVE TO HONG KONG CHE TOLD ME THAT HE HAD BEEN INTENDING TO HAVE A REST UNTIL THE SING TAO OFFER CAME ALONG VERY RECENTLY), THE FACT IS THAT LEE KUAN YEW NOW HAS A POTENTIALLY VALUABLE CHANNEL (AND SOURCE) FOR HIS VIEWS ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG. YOU MAY WELL THINK IT WORTHWHILE FOR YOUR POLITICAL ADVISERS TO GET ALONGSIDE FU AT AN EARLY STAGE CAND I HOPE YOU WILL NOT MIND MY HAVING TAKING TAKEN THE LIBERTY OF PASSING ON THE NAMES OF BOB PEIRCE AND JOHN ASHTON AS POTENTIAL CONTACTS).

SIGNED GORDON DUGGAN

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