J N Powell Esq
Hong Kong Dept FCO
British Embassy PEKING
947
Dear Jonathan,
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DESK OFFICER
INDEX
19 November 1984
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HONG KONG AGREEMENT: THE CHINESE PEOPLE'S POLITICAL CONSULTATIVE CONFERENCE (CPPCC)
1. Peking telegram number 2744 of 12 November reported the opening of the 7th session of the Standing Committee of the 6th CPPCC. The session concluded on 15 November, when the Standing. Committee passed a resolution approving
(zantong, CCC numbers 6363, 0681) the Joint Declaration, and expressing the hope that there would be further close cooperation between China and Britain to ensure the smooth and thorough implementation of the Joint Declaration.
2. Coverage of the meeting in the Chinese media was nothing like as detailed as the coverage given to the session of the NPC Standing Committee from 6-14 November. It was reported on 14 November that Zhou Nan had made a statement at the meeting the previous day, but nothing of what Zhou actually said was revealed (it was probably almost identical to the report that Wu Xueqian gave to the NPC Standing Committee). According to People's Daily, discussion of the Hong Kong agreement was "lively" during meetings on 14 and 15 November, and People's Daily of 16 November, in addition to reporting the resolution in paragraph 1, reported the views of the meeting as a whole. These were remarkably similar to those of the NPC Standing Committee, summarised by Peng Zhen and reported in Peking telegram number 2744. Not really that remarkable of course, just a faithful reflection of the CPPCC's rubber-stamp status.
Yours ever, Tom
TW M Smith
Second Secretary
CC:
RP Margolis Esq, DPA,
Hong Kong
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