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Subsequently the frequency of contact increased. Subjects discussed were normally confined to practical matters, and business conducted by telephone, although on several occasions NCNA staff visited the Government
Secretariat.
In step with the general trend of improvement in the relationship with China and in a way calculated not to disturb public confidence in the Government of Hong Kong, contact with NCNA has increased further. The Government
Secretariat is now in constant communication with NCNA on a very wide range of matters including water supplies, train services and immigration from China. Practically every issue on which the CPG has views which the Hong Kong Govern- ment would wish to take into account, may now be raised at an early stage with senior members of NGNA.
Chinese interest in official representation in Hong Kong
This is an issue which the CPG has raised a number of
times since 1949 and it was mentioned during the Governor's visit to China in March 1979 as something that would be raised in the future. The issue is a complicated one. Because of China's claim that Hong Kong is Chinese territory, the Hong Kong Government has feared that such a representative would seek to arrogate more than strictly diplomatic responsibilities. Although the CPG has given assurances that their representative in Hong Kong would not claim any· executive function, but would merely facilitate communication and discussion (on such practical matters as air and rail communications or on the problem of immigration) between the authorities in Guangzhou and Peking and the Government of Hong Kong, they have at no point precisely defined the status that would be accorded to a representative in Hong Kong. The Chinese proposals for the title Commissioner or Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and rejection of the title Consul-General, indicates the sort of problem that exists, but sheds little light on its solution.
In fact, channels of communication already exist between the Chinese authorities in Peking and Guangzhou (Canton) and the Hong Kong Government through the local office of the
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