161
GR 520
PRIORITY
HER/CAT A
FM F C 0 131850Z
CONFIDENTIAL.
CONFIDENTIAL
HISK 000/1
RECEIVEL
TO PRIORITY PEKING TELNO 623 OF 13 OCTOBER
AND TO HONG KONG.
FROM CORTAZZI.
VISIT OF CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER* HONG KONG.
1. IN HIS TALKS WITH HUANG HUA ON 12 OCTOBER, DR OWEN MENTIONED THE PROBLEM OF LEGAL IMMIGRATION, AND SAID THAT IT PUT GREAT PRESSURE ON HONG KONG SOCIAL SERVICES (FCO TELNO 619). IN THE COURSE OF A LONG CONVERSATION IN THE FCO ON 13 OCTOBER I UNDERLINED THE POINT WITH ASSISTANT MINISTER SUNG. SUNG COMMENTED THAT THE POLITICAL ADVISER IN HONG KONG HAD RAISED IT WITH HIM ON HIS VISIT TO PEKING. IT WAS CHINESE POLICY THAT CHINESE, WHO HAD FAMILY TIES OVERSEAS, SHOULD BE ABLE TO VISIT THEM. HE KNEW THAT THIS GAVE RISE TO SOME DIFFICULTIES AND CHINESE AUTHORITIES HAD TAKEN NOTE OF THEM. THEY HAD NO INTENTION OF LETTING LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE GO TO HONG KONG.
2. LATER ON WHEN I ASKED SUNG IF HE HAD ANY POINTS TO RAISE, HE REVERTED TO THE QUESTION OF HONG KONG SAYING THAT THE PROVINCIAL AUTHORITIES IN KWANGTUNG HAD TAKEN CARE TO ESTABLISH GOOD RELATIONS WITH HONG KONG. THEY WERE UNDERTAKING TO INCREASE THE SUPPLY OF WATER TO HONG KONG AT THE REQUEST OF THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES. A HOVERCRAFT SERVICE WOULD BE STARTED SHORTLY. CHARTER FLIGHTS WERE BEING ARRANGED FOR THE PERIOD OF THE CANTON FAIR, AND WOULD BE OPERATING AT A LOSS, IN ORDER TO PROMOTE FRIENDSHIP AND UNDERSTANDING. THE CHINESE HAD
CONFIDENTIAL
/APPOINTED
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