CONFIDENTIAL
SA
布政司署
香港下亞
畢道
*** OUR REF.: SCR 1/4731/49
* Your Ref.:
RJT McLaren Esq
Hong Kong & General Department
F CO
GOVERNment SECRETARIAT
LOWER ALBERT ROAD
HONG KONG
7 September, 1978.
HKK od!
REELIVER
ST
Dear Robin,
COURTESY CALL BY THE NO.1 DIRECTOR OF NCNA
DRCK OFFICER
INDEX
No
116
REGIS RY
PA
Actin Twken
The Governor asked for Mr Wang K'uang, the new No.1 Director of the local branch of NCNA, to be introduced to him at the Malaysian National Day reception on 31 August. Mr Wang asked if he might call and the Governor of course said he would be very welcome. NCNA subsequently followed up and Wang called on 7 September. He was accompanied by Li Chu-sheng (the No.2 Director), Tan Kan and Li Jo-ho, the usual NCNA officials with whom David Wilson and I do business.
2.
The only
The call lasted for 45 minutes and, as we expected, no questions of substance were raised. two points worth noting were the keen interest shown (mainly by Li Chu-sheng) in the development of Northern Lantau and Wang's satisfaction that close attention would be paid to any attempts by East European countries to invest in Hong Kong. Mr Wang agreed that HMG and the CPG had a common interest in the well-being of Hong Kong.
3.
The main significance of the call was that it took place. This is the first time that the head of NCNA has paid a formal call at Government House. It follows years of amiable talk at cocktail parties between the Governor and Director, and the attendance of the latter (at the time, Li Chu-sheng) at a Government House lunch in April for the Director of the State Bureau for Museums and Archaeological Data, at the time of the Chinese Art Exhibition. It is useful that this semi-formal relationship between the Governor and Director has now been openly accepted by the Chinese by this traditional gesture. The Governor plans to invite Wang to lunch next month.
4.
The call did not add greatly to our picture of
/contd....
CONFIDENTIAL