CONFIDENTIAL
132476
MDTTAN 8101
DISPUTES WHICH SEEM TO HAVE LED TO CHONG'S DETENTION. THE ZHENGZHOU PSB THEN ASKED IN MARCH THIS YEAR TO SEND A TEAM TO HONG KONG TO COLLECT FURTHER EVIDENCE. THE RHKP'S REESPONSE WAS THAT ON THE BASIS OF THEIR OWN ENQUIRIES, THIS SEEMED TO BE A CIVIL RATHER THAN A CRIMINAL DISPUTE (I.E. OUTSIDE THE AREA OF NORMAL HONG KONG/CHINA POLICE COOPERATION) AND THAT IN ANY CASE THERE SEEMED LITTLE CHANCE OF SUCH A VISIT YIELDING USEFUL NEW EVIDENCE. THE RHKP NEVERTHELESS ADDED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE NO OBJECTION IN PRINCIPLE TO SUCH A VISIT. ZHENGZHOU PSB HAVE NOT SO FAR TAKEN THIS FURTHER.
8.
MY INITIAL REACTION ON LEARNING OF THESE EXCHANGES WAS THAT WE SHOULD ASK THE RHKP TO WITHDRAW COOPERATION ON THIS CASE WHILE OUR REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION ABOUT CHONG'S CIRCUMSTANCES REMAIN UNANSWERED. BUT ON REFLECTION, AND AFTER DISCUSSION WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, WE THINK WE MIGHT BE UNABLE TO USE THIS CHANNEL MORE EFFECTIVELY. ACCORDINGLY, UNLESS YOU OR PEKING ADVISE TO THE CONTRARY, THE COMMISSIONER PROPOSES TO PRESS INFORMALLY FOR INFORMATION ON CHONG THROUGH HIS NORMAL LIAISON CONTACTS WITH THE MINISTRY OF PUBLIC SECURITY. IF THE ZHENGZHOU PSB REVERTS IN DUE COURSE ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A VISIT, THE RHKP WILL ARRANGE THIS, BUT USE THE OCCASION TO PRESS THEM FACE TO FACE. IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE TO ORGANISE A MEETING, UNDER RHKP AUSPICES, WITH MEMBERS OF CHONG'S FAMILY. IT MIGHT THEN BE HARDER EVEN FOR THE HARD MEN OF THE PSB TO REMAIN AS IMPASSIVE AS THEY HAVE BEEN ON HOME GROUND.
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