CONFIDENTIAL
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4.
In the course of these exchanges, Yang suddenly
launched into a complaint about the way in which the Hong Kong press was covering ECVIIS. Allegations had been attributed to Hong Kong Government sources that local Chinese officials had encouraged ECVIIS to go to Hong Kong. This did not help create
a cooperative atmosphere. He would not name names: we knew very well who was making such remarks.
5.
I said I was astonished by what Yang had just said. I found it hard to believe that Hong Kong Government officials could have spoken to the press in this way. We had been following the press coverage very carefully, and had seen no such reports. If he could cite a specific report, I would certainly investigate it. Yang would not do so and again became flustered. I continued that we could not however
control what was written by the Hong Kong press which, as Yang knew, often included a great deal of speculation. The best way to discourage speculation was with action: by agreeing upon, and beginning to implement, a repatriation programme.
Comment
6.
Despite his reputation for behaving in this acrimonious way, Yang had not hitherto done so with me.
I am
not sure why he should have chosen this occasion to reveal this side of his personality. But he was clearly annoyed to learn from us, and not from the MFA, of Wang Guisheng's discussion in Peking with Nigel Cox (Peking telno 1107 refers).
ал
(John Ashton)
Acting Political Adviser 17.8.93
CC:
J. Marshall Esq., HKD, FCO N. J. Cox Esq. Peking
C. Parton Esq., UKREP JLG HK
CONFIDENTIAL
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