Other Issues
CONFIDENTIAL
9. Fung said that chen had raised with him the need for more extensive consultation with the British side in the remaining years of the transition. I pointed out that it was ironic that the chinese should be talking about broadening the scope of consultation when in the last six months they had resolutely refused even to hold a formal meeting of the JLG.
10. Fung said that before the visit he and his colleagues had requested a call on wei Jingsheng. Rather at his surprise this had not been rejected outright. NCNA had said that on this occasion it would not be possible, given the large number of journalists in Peking; but that on a subsequent occasion, perhaps later in the year, such a visit might be arranged if it could be done quietly.
Visit to London
11. Fung said that he would be raising the airport and constitutional development with the Secretary of State and Mr Goodlad during his London visit. He would also be raising the Hong Kong Government's proposed application procedures for BN (0) passport, arguing that people should be allowed to apply for the passport at any time between now and 1997. He thought that provided applications were received by 30 June 1997, there should be no problem over issuing the passports thereafter. explained our view that this would not in fact be possible.
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Comment
12. Fung is depressingly ready to swallow the prevailing Chinese propaganda line and to give them the benefit of the doubt on most issues of contention with us. He seems obstinately attached to his principles when they bring him into conflict with the HKG (eg PAA funding) and correspondingly vague on principles where these threaten conflict with China's will (eg deadlines for talks).
CONFIDENTIAL
ARP
A R Paul