6.
The Chinese may raise the question of the appointment of an official Chinese representative in the Colony with the Secretary of State. It is not certain that they will since the subject has never been formally raised with our Ambassador in Peking since he took up his appointment. But the question was raised with Sir Alec Douglas-Home in 1972 and we cannot exclude the possibility that it will be raised again this time. We see no advantage to ourselves in acceding to this request or, indeed, in accepting any partial change in the status quo which can only be of tactical advantage to the Chinese without committing them to any position on the fundamental issue in due course.
Hong Kong & lndian Ocean Department 11 March 1976
鼈
BEURET
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