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strategies for the next round of talks. It was expected that some Chinese representatives in HK would give advice in the diplomatic talks with the hope of reconciling the differences between Britain and China. The sources also said the Governor might first go to Beijing for exploratory talks.
3.
LOCAL GROUPS VISIT CHINA:
Three academic groups from HK are visiting China. The largest group comprises about 30 HKU, CU and Polytechnic lecturers. Their leader is the Dean of Civil Engineering Department, Prof. Cheung Yau-kai and the members include Dr. Joseph Cheng of CU and Dr. John Yeung of HKU. The second group is made up of left-wing school headmasters and teachers mainly of Pui Kiu College, Island Middle School and Hon Wah. Members of third group are from the left-wing Education Workers Union.
The first two groups met the NPC Vice-chairman, Mr. Liao Chengzhi, on April 2 and 6 respectively. None of the press reports, including the Xinhua despatch, went into the substances of the discussions. It was reported that Mr. Liao had told delegates of the two groups to keep the contents confidential.
Meanwhile the HK Daily News reported that the Chinese Government had invited two more local groups to go to China. One group would comprise members of the CMA, FHKI and HK Factory Owners' Association while the other would be made up of industrialists and businessmen in the NT. The paper also said that China had withdrawn its invitation to a group of local journalists to visit Beijing for fear that they might divulge the substance of any talks they might have with Chinese leaders.
Earlier, an AFP despatch from Beijing said China was encouraging its elite, including prominent figures in art and literary circles, to come to HK to meet their Taiwan relatives. It was reported that a decision was made by the State Council in February that applications from the elite for coming to HK for such reunions would be processed within 24 hours.
Wah Kiu Yat Po said on 7 April that China would send an economic delegation to HK in June to woo investment in the form of joint ventures.
4.
MR. ROLAND MOYLE IN HK:
The Labour Party's deputy spokesman on foreign and commonwealth affairs, Mr. Roland Moyle, arrived in HK on 1 April for an eight-day visit following trip to China. During his stay here, he met the Governor and senior Government officials. At a press conference before his departure on 9 April, Mr. Moyle said his impression of the Chinese Government's approach to the future administration of HK was that they wanted HK people to govern HK and to preserve HK institutions. However, that did not mean a Government elected by universal suffrage. He said China had a pragmatic attitude to HK's future, but it was quite adamant that sovereignty over HK was not negotiable. He said it would be counter-productive for Britain to emphasis the sovereignty issue at the negotiation table. He said the foreign exchange card rather than the sovereignty card should be used by Britain
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