SCR 1/4731/49
R C Samuel Esq
Far Eastern Department
F CO
THIS IS A COPY
THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN RETAINED IN THE DEPARTMENT UNDER SECTION 344) OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT 1958
2 December, 1977
Hkk, 40/548/1
- 7 DEC 1977
ab af d
NEW CHINA NEWS AGENCY
Liang Wei-lin, the Director of the New China News Agency, is about to leave Hong Kong. He is giving a large farewell party on 12 December and will depart shortly thereafter.
His official title will probably be as Vice Chairman of the Kwangtung rovincial evolutionary Committee.
2.
ile
Liang has been here as Director for the incredibly long period of nearly 20 years. I have only myself met him recently when he gave a lavish dinner to welcome my arrival and say farewell to Charles Drace-Francis. However, I gather from others who have known him longer that he has throughout most of his time here cultivated the manner of an urbane, almost bourgeois, official. That has been his external image, suitable for his post as Director of the NCNA. also has another, more important, role as the senior Party cadre in Hong Kong. In that role he has presided over Party meetings and directed Party activities with dedication and skill. Apart from a considerable set-back during the Cultural Revolution in 1967-8, I think it is fair to admit that he and his cadres have had considerable success in building up the reputation and influence of the NCNA. you know, the long Kong Government is careful not to give him the sort of recognition which would imply that he is the equivalent of a Consul-General. However much we may stick to that line, however, there is little doubt that most members of the Consular Corps and doubtless many members of the public do think of him as an official Chinese Government
AS
representative. I do not think that this paradox matters, providing that we are alert to the continual pressures which are exerted on us to erode our official line.
/contd.....
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