THE TALKS WERE, OF COURSE, CONFIDENTIAL AND YOU WOULD NOT EXFECT
ME TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THEM IN ANY DETAIL. ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT
ONE OR TWO MATTERS RELATING TO HONG KONG DID COME UP - FOR EXAMPLE THE POSSIBILITY OF IMPROVEMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS WITH CHIA
WAS DISCUSSED.
THE VISIT HAS TAKEN PLACE AT THE OPENING OF AN IMPORTANT NEW
CHAPTER IN RELATIONS WITH CHINA.
ONE OF A SERIES OF FIRSTS:
FIRST AMBASSADOR TO THE CPR
FIRST INVITATION TO A BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE KINISTER
-FIRST OFFICIAL TALKS BETWEEN MINISTERS OF FOREIGN MINISTRIES
OF CHINA AND A VESTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRY IN PEKING FOR MANY YEARS
- FIRST FLIGHT INTO CHINA BY AN RAF PLANE SINCE THE FOUNDING OF
THE CPA.
GENERALLY THE VISIT HAS ENABLED EACH GOVERNMENT TO OBTAIN
A CREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THE OTHER'S POINT OF VIEW OVER A WIDE FIELD, ALTHOUGH NATURALLY THERE WERE AREAS ON WHICH WE HAD TO AGREE TO DISAGREE. I HAVE COME AWAY FROM CHINA WITH A MUCH BETTER.
UNDERSTANDING NOT ONLY OF HER FOREIGN POLICY BUT ALSO OF HER INTERNAL POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL PREOCCUPATIONS. I HOPE -THE CHINESE ALSO UNDERSTAND US BETTER TOO.
SPECIFICALLY WE TALKED ABOUT THE IMPROVEMENT OF CONTACTS IN THE TRADE TECHNOLOGICAL, SCIENTIFIC, CULTURAL AND SPORTING SPHERES. ALTHOUGH IT IS AS YET TOO EARLY TO POINT TO PARTICULAR
INSTANCES I HAVE EVERY EXPECTATION THAT THE NEW CLIMATE WHICH HAS
BEEN DEVELOPED WILL HAVE EARLY TANGIELE RESULTS.
REGRET TIME TABLE PREVENTS ME FROM REPORTING QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS BEFORE DEPARTURE, PLEASE PELY ON AGENCY REPORTING WHICH
SHOULD BE FAIRLY COMPREHENSIVE ON POINTS OF SUBSTANCE.
MACLEHOSE
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
PED HKIOD