TNAG-2990-FCO40-3574-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-talks-betwee-1992 — Page 15

CONFIDENTIAL

MAR 07/6 Нива

par Classia

angle 123

سميح

Thanks. V.teresting.

Cha 20%

من

खी

Miss Sau 24/10

FROM: P F Ricketts

Hong Kong Department

DATE: 28 October 1992

cc: Sir John Coles Mr Davies, FED Mr Wye, RAD Mr Morris Mr Bunten

Mr Hum

pa

2910.

HONG KONG: CHINESE PROPAGANDA CAMPAIGN

I attach a copy of a very interesting note from

Leo Goodstat (Head of the Central Policy Unit in Hong Kong).

1.

You will see that this is the report on which the Governor's telegram about the line to be taken by Zhu Rongji was based.

2.

There is some other interesting material in this report. It suggests that:

3.

- (as we suspected) the main Chinese priority will be to intimidate LegCo members into voting against the Governor's package. They are already beginning to dole out some pretty crude threats;

they did not wish to damage Hong Kong's economy and would keep the row confined to the "political arena". But this evidently includes the airport, since they would be prepared to "tear up the MOU";

they seem to be less concerned about a referendum;

they may leave their longer term strategy deliberately vague until after the voting in LegCo.

4.

It is also interesting that the source in question suggests that Lu Ping's instructions for his press conference last week were to speak in an unrestrained manner. This sounds plausible and suggests that the tone of Lu Ping's attack, rather than the precise terms, may be the most significant feature. Certainly, his comments on airspace

were bizarre.

роволок

PF Ricketts

propaganda.PRESS.bern

CONFIDENTIAL

Page 15Page 16