MADABO
FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE'S VISIT TO HONG KONG AND PEKING
Background
References
A : Hong Kong telnos 1274 and 1279 reporting the FAC's visit to
Hong Kong and Mr Holloway's teleletter of 24 April reporting
the Committee's dinner with the Senior British Trade
Commissioner.
0
Peking telnos 695 and 697-702, reporting the FAC's visit to Peking, Miss Bailes' teleletter of 26 April giving the Embassy's impression of the FAC's visit and Peking telno 729 giving Sir A Donald's assessment of the Chinese attitude on nationality.
c: Daily Telegraph article of 25 April.
D: Mr Adams minute of 27 April recording the PUS's call on Mr
Howell.
E : Note on HMS Tamar and the Consulate-General.
F:
FAC press notice on forthcoming public evidence sessions connected with the Hong Kong enquiry.
General impressions
1.
The Foreign Affairs Committee's recent visits to Hong Kong (17-22 April) and Peking (22-25 April) have been fully reported by the posts concerned.
2. The Committee were predictably surprised by the strength of feeling in Hong Kong on the nationality issue and the problem of Vietnamese boat people and were struck by the degree of bitterness towards the UK expressed to them on both subjects. On nationality, in particular, the Committee faced a number of emotional appeals by