Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
File
HKK 027/16
Miss Caroline Bower
OVIS
RESTRICTED
Central Office of Information
Hercules Road
London SE1 7DU
Der Min Beer,
18 April 1986
CATEGORY III VISIT BY MR XU JIATUN, NEW CHINA NEWS AGENCY, HONG KONG
1.
I understand
that Mr Leeks of this department spoke to you yesterday regarding the prospective visit to this country of Mr Xu Jiatun and 3 other officials of the Hong Kong Branch of the New China News Agency (NCNA).
2.
Mr Xu is Director of the Hong Kong Branch. I should begin by explaining that only a part of the NCNA in Hong Kong has anything to do with news. The head of the Hong Kong Branch is de facto Chinese representative in Hong Kong (although he cannot be given any formal consular status in view of China's position on the status of Hong Kong). Mr Xu
Xu is thus Peking's leading official in Hong Kong. He would qualify in all but name for treatment by HMG as an ambassador, and a
senior very one at that.
3.
The
We have learnt that Mr Xu and 3 other NCNA officials (name list attached) are due to visit this country privately between 11 and 18 May inclusive. visit is being sponsored and funded by
by a leading Hong Kong businessman, Mr Cha Chi-ming, who with one or other of his sons will accompany the party during their trip. It is probable that a junior official from the Chinese Embassy will also accompany them for part of the visit, and thus act as interpreter where necessary.
4.
The visitors aim to spend 11-14 May inclusive in London. They will be staying at the Montcalm Hotel, Great Cumberland Place. On 15 May they will leave for a separate tour of
of the north of England, organised by Mr
Cha.
5.
of
In view of the importance of Mr Xu in terms both
for HMG's responsibility
Hong Kong and of our relations with the PRC, we should like to offer Mr Xu a Category III COI programme for the period 12-14 May inclusive. A broad framework of what we envisage is:
[JHLAIK]
HKK 027/16
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
23 APR 1986
MEGISTRY
Action Taken
PA
AzB 23/4.