TNAG-2909-FCO40-4183-Detention-of-Hong-Kong-residents-in-China-1993 — Page 37

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We were grateful to Mr. Goodlad for raising Chong's case with Ambassador Ma on 23 August (FCO telno 774). We have

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been considering further whether there are any other ways in (34

which we might increase the pressure on the Chinese. be helpful if I describe our latest thinking.

Political Channels

2.

It might

Now that we have raised this at Ministerial level, and if there is no progress in the meantime, we see merit in recommending that the Secretary of State take the case up with Qian Qichen on 1 October. We can think of no downside to this: the arguments in my teleletter of 4 August still apply. Perhaps the best approach would be to establish whether the Secretary of State would be prepared to raise it, and if so to make this clear to the Chinese well in advance. This would enable them to try to get the matter sorted out beforehand or at least to ensure that Qian was briefed, enabling him to intervene personally if he wished. Qian would presumably have a better chance than his subordinates of making headway with the security apparatus. There are of course wider reasons why he might wish to have a relatively easy "concession" up his sleeve for his meeting with Mr. Hurd. And it would be good news in Hong Kong if Mr. Hurd were able to help in this case.

Legal Aspects

3.

Meanwhile, we need to keep reminding the Chinese at official level that we await their response. We are doing so regularly with the NCNA, and we have been grateful for Peking's continued efforts. We were also grateful to Peking for drawing to our attention (in their talno 1120) the apparently illegal detention by the Zhengzhou Public Security Bureau (PSB) of a local businessman. We have now tracked down the Supreme

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