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Government departments and are considering how to restart other
sponsored exchange visits. Mr Galsworthy was authorised to make clear to the Chinese in the margins of JLG XV that the Hong Kong
Government saw value in a continuation of the sponsored visit
programme and would be pleased to receive a further party from the
Chinese side as soon as this could be arranged.
6. We agree with all the suggestions put forward by Hong Kong.
Another possible candidate who might be worth considering is Li
Ruihuan, who was brought into the Politbureau's Standing Committee
in last year's post-June reshuffle and who made a favourable
impression on Lord Young. But in his case and that of Vice-Premier
Tian Jiyun, their seniority and political profile are such that any
formal invitations might be better delayed until some of the less
senior visits have gone ahead. Short biographical notes on the
various possible visitors are on Annex A.
1.
I submit a draft telegram to Hong Kong.
Rosalind Mand
R M Marsden
1. The Hong Kong Government has made a practice of encouraging selected Chinese leaders and Ministers to visit Hong Kong since before the signature of the Joint Declaration. The original purpose was to help persuade the Chinese leadership of the intricacy of the present Hong Kong machine, and the need for the present systems to be preserved intact if the territory was to maintain its record of success. The signature of the Joint Declaration, and the promulgation of the Basic Law, have not entirely removed the need to get across this basic message. in present circumstances, visits by Chinese officials could also have some specific purpose, eg in relation to PADS.
But
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/2.