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have been a number of meetings recently in Peking to discuss policy and organisation in Hong Kong and Li has frequently been away during the past few months, there seemed no reason to believe that he himself was in any trouble.
Indeed, his behaviour and manner suggested the contrary.
4.
The local NCNA had not told us anything about the impending arrival of a new Director. However, having seen the visa application, I asked Li Chu-sheng the other day what this implied for his own future, saying that I would be very sorry indeed if it meant that he was going. Li replied by saying that Wang was coming as No.1 Director (ti-yi she-chang) and that he himself would be staying. He implied, but did not state clearly, that he would remain as a second Director (a situation reminiscent of the first Chinese Embassy in London just over a hundred years ago when, if I remember right, there were two Ambassadors). My own guess is that Wang will come in to take charge of overall policy while Li will revert to his previous role of dealing with the "foreign affairs" part of NCNA's Work. Wang, as presumably the senior man in Party terms, should take over the covert post of First Secretary of the Hong Kong and Macau work committee.
5.
Also due to arrive with Wang are two other senior cadres, Li Chi-hsin (a 68-year old Cantonese) and Lo K'o-ming (a 58-year old Cantonese), both of whom are travelling on diplomatic passports and are to take up positions as Deputy Directors. According to the present Director, Li Chi-hsin is to be responsible for financial and economic activities. am also enclosing biographical notes on Li and Lo.
6.
I
None of the three newcomers has yet arrived, despite the date given on their visa applications. When yesterday I asked the present Director what was happening, he said that he did not know when Wang was arriving and would let me know when he did. Incidentally, the news of the new appointment has not yet appeared in the press. I have, however, briefed Exco on the subject.
7.
The present relationship with NCNA seems to be working well. I treat their foreign affairs section to all intents and purposes as an embassy. We are in frequent touch on minor matters, either by telephone or through visits to my or Iain Orr's office in the Secretariat. Recent experience has shown that they can get messages through to Canton fairly quickly, although it seems to take an average of at least two days to get a decision on anything which involves the Kwangtung authorities. As you know, some larger issues, such as water or immigration, take a great deal longer,
/contd..
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