GR 350
SECRET
(12
SECRET
FM HONG KONG 100740Z JAN 83
TO ROUTINE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 39 OF 10 JANUARY
HKK 040
M...
1 0 JAN 1983
NO
AL
ACIC
INFO ROUTINE PEKING
INDEX
HKK 040 li
1982
VISITORS TO PEKING.
920
Af
ра
146 10/1
Mi thave
Amixed bug,
1. MY TELNO 1315 OF 1982 REPORTED THAT A GROUP OF HEUNG YI KUK
MEMBERS WAS LIKELY TO GO TO PEKING IN EARLY DECEMBER. THE VISIT
DID NOT TAKE PLACE AT THAT TIME, BUT A GROUP OF 14 NEW TERRITORIES PEOPLE (INCLUDING 4 WIVES) WILL BE VISITING CHINA FROM 10 JANUARY.
THE PARTY WILL BE LED BY LAU WONG-FAT, CHAIRMAN OF THE HEUNG YI KUK, BUT NOT ALL ITS MEMBERS BELONG TO THE KUK AND IT IS NOT AN OFFICIAL
DELEGATION FROM THAT BODY. TWO MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
ARE INCLUDED: CHARLES YEUNG AND CHEUNG YAN-LEUNG, THE LATTER A
FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE KUK.
2. THE INITIATIVE FOR THE VISIT CAME FROM THOSE GOING, NOT THE
CHINESE. CHAN YAT SEN, ANOTHER FORMER CHAIRMAN, HAS BEEN
INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING THE ARRANGEMENTS THROUGH THE NCNA WHO
HAVE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM BEFORE DEPARTURE. THEY ARE PAYING
THEIR OWN WAY. THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY WILL
MEET LIAO CHENGZHI EARLY IN THE VISIT AND THEY HOPE THAT THEY WILL
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET OTHER SENIOR CHINESE LEADERS.
3. THEY ARE BEING ACCOMPANIED BY A JOURNALIST FROM THE COMMUNIST
WEN WEI PO. SOME OTHER LOCAL PAPERS ARE SENDING REPORTERS TO
PEKING AND THE TWO TELEVISION STATIONS ARE ALSO SENDING TEAMS.
THE VISIT IS THEREFORE LIKELY TO RECEIVE A GOOD DEAL OF PUBLICITY
HERE.
4. WE HAVE SPOKEN TO MEMBERS OF THE GROUP AND HAVE SUGGESTED TO
THEM THAT THEY SHOULD SAY WHAT THEY REALLY THINK AND THAT IN DISCUSSION THEY SHOULD NOT HESITATE TO QUESTION ASSERTIONS MADE
BY THE CHINESE WHICH THEY DO NOT BELIEVE TO BE WELL FOUNDED. 5. WE UNDERSTAND THAT ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE MEMBERS OF THE GROUP
INTEND TO PRESENT WRITTEN STATEMENTS OF THEIR PERSONAL VIEWS.
WE HAVE ONLY SEEN ONE OF THESE WHICH IN A RATHER DISCURSIVE WAY
STRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BRITISH CONNECTION. SOME MEMBERS
WILL BE RIDING INDIVIDUAL HOBBY HORSES: CHAN YAT SEN BELIEVES
THAT AN AIRPORT IN SHENZHEN OR DEEP BAY COULD BE INSTRUMENTAL
IN RESOLVING THE QUESTION OF THE FUTURE.
6. WE HAVE ADVISED CHARLES YEUNG, IN ANSWER TO HIS QUESTION, THAT IT WOULD BE BEST IF HE DID NOT CALL AT THE EMBASSY UNLESS, OF COURSE, SOME ASSISTANCE IS REQUIRED.
ufion
See
51
YOUDE
LIMITED
HKG D
FED
PUSD
Ps
PS LORDBELSTEAD PS/MBRIFKIND
PS ; MR HURD
PSI PUS
SIAJ BULLARD MRCIFFARD MRDONALD
SECRET
THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT
ADVANCED