Q.
Was the question of Chinese representation in Hong Kong raised?
A.
H.d.: This has been raised in the past
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and it was raised again, as something that would be mentioned in future. The last time it was raised I think was, I may be wrong, with Anthony Crosland in 1976.
Q. As I understand it, the way of communication between Hong Kong and China
at the moment is through Hong Kong, Peking, Hong Kong. Is there going to be any short circuiting of requests and contacts without official things having to go through this.
A.
Q.
A.
H.E.: I take your point. There are really 3 channels of communication. One is here in Hong Kong, one is via our embassy in Peking and one is between the Foreign Office and the Chinese Embassy in London.
At one time communication was almost entirely through the last two, i.e. the embassy in Peking and the embassy in London. I do not think this was at all a healthy situation. The tendency in recent years has been more and more for business to be transacted here in Hong Kong. Obviously any major issue must be reserved for H.MIG. to deal with through whichever channel it thinks right.But I do not see the present situation being disturbed because conceivably there might be more direct contact between higher Chinese officials not normally resident in Hong Kong and us in Hong Kong. This is a very normal situation.
Is there going to be any free area from Shenzhen and the border, so that goods can be brought from China easily and businessmen can go up to China
easily
H.E.: This will have to be worked out. As I said, there are plans for this area, but they are still at a very early stage and if there are any official difficulties they will have to be resolved. I cannot see any.
It is not a free zone surely. It is a special municipality. other special municipalities in China.
There are
/Q. Did you...