SECRET
TOP
12697
-
1
478
PP HONG KONG
GRS 242
SECRET
FM FCO 181630Z AUG 83
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 801 OF 18 AUGUST
AND TO PEKING
MKK040/1
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
& Aug 1983
NEGISTRY
PA
Action Taken
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
414-MARGOLIS' TELELETTER OF 9 AUGUST: XU JIATUN
MKK040/2 (83)
1.
WE TOO HAVE BEEN WATCHING XU'S MOVEMENTS WITH INTEREST.
GIVEN HIS SENIORITY IN THE PRC HIERARCHY AND WHAT WE KNOW OF
CHINESE PLANS FOR THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG, IT WOULD BE LOGICAL
IF A DELIBERATE ATTEMPT WAS BEING MADE TO BUILD UP THE STATUS
AND ROLE OF THE HEAD OF THE NCNA. IF SUCCESSFUL, THIS MIGHT
CAUSE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS WHICH WE HAVE IN PAST FORESEEN WHEN
CONSIDERING THE IDEA OF AN OFFICIAL CHINESE REPRESENTATIVE.
2.
WE FEEL SURE THAT THE WALLED CITY VISIT WAS DELIBERATELY
PLANNED. WE DO NOT FIND THE REASONS GIVEN IN THE COMMUNIST
~ PRESS (HONG KONG TELNO 1183) CONVINCING. THE CHINESE MAY
BE DEMONSTRATING THEIR ABILITY TO TOUCH US ON A SENSITIVE SPOT,
AND REMINDING THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG BY OBLIQUE REFERENCE TO
TEH 1898 CONVENTION OF THE TRANSIENCE OF BRITISH ADMINISTRATION
AND THE INEVITABILITY OF THE REASSERTION OF CHINESE SOVEREIGNTY.
A HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT 17 APPROACH TO THE TREATIES IS NOTHING
NEW FOR THE CHINESE AND FITS WITH THEIR BECOMING INCREASINGLY
LOCKED IN TO THE 1997 DATE (CF HU YAOBANG'S 15 AUGUST REMARKS).
3.
WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR ANY FURTHER THOUGHTS THAT YOU
HAVE ON XU OR THE WALLED CITY VISIT AND FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
ON XU'S ACTIVITIES. WE THINK IT QUITE LIKELY THAT THIS VISIT MAY
SIGNAL THE BEGINNING OF A HONG KONG-BASED PHASE OF THE PROPAGANDA
CAMPAIGN.
MKK04014'K'
1
WHITNEY
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
TRENURIM340
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