CONFIDENTIAL
OTHER VISITS
Mr Sung said that in addition to the invitations extended to the Prime Minister and Dr Owen, any other Cabinet Ministers would be welcome in China.
HONG KONG
This
Mr Cortazzi referred to the Secretary of State's discussion with Huang Hua on the question of immigration into Hong Kong. presented serious difficulties for the Hong Kong authorities. Arrivals from China had been running at 180 per day since June and 220 per day in September. Altogether 42,000 had entered Hong Kong so far this year. This was more than double the total for the whole of 1977. Arrivals on this scale posed a threat to the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong which we believed it was in the interests of both China and Britain to preserve. Mr Sung said he realised the difficulties and took note. China did not intend to let a large number enter Hong Kong. Mr Murray referred to a visit to Hong Kong of Mr Lo Fan-chun, Vice Chairman of the Canton Revolutionary Committee on the first of the charter flights arranged for the period of the Canton Fair. This had been a most welcome visit. Mr Lo had discussed immigration with the Governor.
"CONSULAR" CASES
Mr Cortazzi referred to the handful of people who were anxious to leave China to join their relatives either in Hong Kong or the UK. The numbers were small; and the UK would be grateful if the Chinese authorities could speed up their departure.
Mr Sung commented that this would lead to an increase in the numbers arriving in Hong Kong! Mr Cortazzi said that it was for this reason that he had raised the two issues together!
EDUCATION AND CULTURE
Mr Cortazzi said that Mrs Williams would have had the opportunity to discuss educational exchanges with Huang Hua. These exchanges had the full support of the British Government, including the Prime Minister and Dr Owen. We would make every effort to ensure their success. Mr Sung said that these matters had been discussed during Mr Huang's call on the British Council. The British Council had referred to two periods in the history of Anglo-Chinese educational exchanges the period before Mrs Williams' visit, and the period after. China appreciated the efforts of the British Government and Mrs Williams in particular. The two sides could implement one by one the agreements reached in Peking.
Mr Cortazzi referred to Dr Owen's remarks to Huang Hua about British students in China. Dr Owen had said that they would not be confined to students of Chinese language. He hoped that students in a wide range of disciplines (eg economics, sociology, social sciences and science) could pursue studies in their own particular fields in China. The numbers visiting China would not be nearly so great as those coming to the UK; but we would like the exchanges to have this element of reciprocity. Mr Sung said that Huang Hua had already noted
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CONFIDENTIAL