(S. of S. please pass to Peking
and Washington).
Peking telegram No. 150 to Foreign Office and your
telegram No. 275 to me.
Chinese Representation in Hong Kong.
While I still dislike the proposal intensly, I realise that it may be
difficult to reject it and that to do so might create other
difficulties. If, however, the appointment were made after Her Majesty's
Government and the Chinese Government had exchanged Ambassadors, the
effect on local moral would not initially be anything like so bad as if
it were made in advance of this.
If it were made after such an exchange it would be accepted here as the
next logical step in the normalising of relations between Her Majesty's
Government and Hong Kong on the one hand and the Chinese Government on
the other. If, however, it were made in advance it would be regarded as
evidence that we were unable to resist pressure from Peking. I am sure
that you will appreciate the importance of local moral, particularly at
this juncture when Hong Kong is being subjected to a cultural offensive
(see David's letter to Johnston of 29th March).
2=
I therefore strongly urge that the matter be played in this way, i.e.
that the Chinese should be told that we are not prepared to discuss the
appointment of further representatives of the two Governments in each
other's territories until relations have been normalised by the exchange
of Ambassadors.
3. Moreover, if Ambassadors were exchanged there would no longer be the
same advantage from the Hong Kong point of view in obtaining agreement
to the appointment of a Consular Officer in Canton, to which I
understand the Commissioner- General for South East Asia sees objection
since it might lead to a request from the Chinese for the appointment of
Consuls in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
4. I agree that if the appointment had to be accepted it would not be
practicable to define closely the
/Commissioner's
[
E
+
I
ནི་མི་
Commissioner's functions. It should, however, be laid down that he
should not concern himself with the internal affairs of the Colony or
with matters of policy, which latter are for Her Majesty's Government
and the Chinese Government to discuss in London or Peking.
5. I would also suggest that if in due course we decided that we must
accept the proposal we should also prepare the ground in advance with
the Americans, to whom I presume such an appointment would be most
unpalatable, with the possible effects for the Colony suggested in
paragraph 5 of my savingram No. 460. should therefore like to tip off in
advance the American Consul General here.
I
:
(Copies sent to. Foreign Office for repetition
to Peking and to Foreign Office Bag Room for despatch to Washington).
+
+
F
Cypher/UTP
Mr. O'Neill
No: 190
Larch 26, 1956
FROM PEKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE
D'PARTEITI, DISTRIBITION
D. 7.10 c.p. larch 26, 1956. R. 12.14 p.. March 26, 1955.
PAJORITY
L&C 1143/5.
fdressed to Foreign Office telemi a
Repeated for information to:
Hong Kong,
Singapore,
And Saving to: Washington.
J.
Hy telegram No. 135: Chinese Representation in Hong Kong.
1143/4
I have now seen Hong Kong toleran No. 460 Saving to tho Colonial Office.
In spite of its argments, I still consider that we ought to accept the
Chineso Govoricent's proposaï.
2. I fully agree that it raises Amazontal issues on ou position in Hong
Kong. No doubt the Chinese were well aware of this when they made it.
Nor do I doubt that the Chinese Commissioner's presence would frequently
create awkward problems.
But I still believe the appointment would have some countervailing
advantages from our point of view of the kind suggested in ny telegram
under reference,
3. It is, I think, agreed that the present Chinese Govarmat does not
intend to accept our possession of Hong Kong indefinitely. Their present
acceptance of it is due largely to the fact that the independence of
Hong Kong is, at the moment, of advantage to them. It may continua to be
so far same timo, But læp undeo. ? the situation] is evolving; and
though at presont the Chinese Goverment has no intention of pushing
matters to extremes, their policy in relation to Hong Kong is not
entirely passivo, as this proposal shovs. It may bè, as the Governm
says, that we were able to coexist nare easily in Hong Kong in the past
few years "I? grp omitted] cool aloofness", but that does not make it
any easier to reject a proposal which is, on 1955 the face of it,
forthcoming and friendly. For the absence of
Chinese Goverment representative in liong Kong could now be
/regarica
IK
MKA
A
48
SPOR VI
Peking taleman No. 190 de creign Office,
2
regarded as an anozaly which it is reasonable to correct. At this stage
I believe it to ts in our interests to make the best of this
particularly bad job.
2. It would certainly be difficult to find grounds to explain our
rejection of this proposal. And I believe that if ve ủo reject it, we
shall run greater risks then wo should incw by accepting it. The Chinese
might then feel it necessary to accelerate the programme they have
presumably established in relation to liong Kong, choosing means that
would be more cabarrassing to us than the passence of their Commissioner
in the colony; and when the Chinese decide to attempt to make the
position of Hong Kong untenable, tho presence or absence of a
Commissioner will scarcely affect their ability to do so. But to reject
this proposal night advance the date of such a decision.
5. If we do accept this proposal, I doubt whether it would be wise to
seek an agreed definition of the Chinese Commissioner's functions
because
(1) it would be hard to reach
(11) it would be hard to hold him to it if we did reach it,
and
(111) vo shall probably not get one more harmless on the
-12
surface than what ve already have (my telegan No. 132).
Foreign Office pass Hong Korg, Singapore and Washington as ny telegrans
113, 17 and 66 Saving.
[Repeated to Singapore and saving to Washington.
Copy sent to Telegraph Section C.0. for repetition to Hong Kong).
DISTRIBUND 40:
Far Eastern Department
South-East Asia Department
Economic Relations Department
Kutual Aid Department
Hews Department
X X X X X
i
Secretariat 2/1126/50.
SAVINGRAH
To the Secretary of State for the Colonies
From the Governor, Hong Kong
Dato..!!
No.
March, 1956
·
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Rptd:-
PEKING
WASHINGTON 22
Com.-Gen.
SINGAPORE,
19 MAN 1955
GUARD
ן -
+
A
Peking telegram No. 185 to Foreign Office.
Chinese representation in Hong Kong.
From Hong Kong's point of view this is a most embarrassing request. I
agree that it amounts to recognition of the status quo in the short term
but the ultimate aim of incorporation of Hong Kong in Kwangtung would
presumably remain unaffected and such an appointment might indeed be
only a hastening step in that direction.
2.
The last Nationalist representative here (T.W. Kwok), who held the title
of "Special Commissioner of the Chinese Ministry for Foreign Affairs",
although in the circumstances of the time generally friendly, could be
troublesome on occasions, e.g. in interesting himself in cases of
individual Chinese residents and in claiming a position superior to that
of a normal consular officer. There is, I fear, litt. doubt that any
officer of the present Chinese Government, whatever his title, would set
himself up as the Chinese representative in Hong Kong and would interest
himself, to our embarrassment, not only in the recurring points of
friction between this Government and the Chinese (immigration controls,
the "Kashmir Princess", the Nationalist sabrojot, the introduction of
Chinese "culture" into the Colony and Court cases involving China's
"sovereign immunity" are instances which come to mind), but also, as the
representative of the "motherland", in the many loft- wing activities in
the Colony (trade unions, schools, etc.). In the former, this friction
is, at present, to some extent cushioned by distance and by the channel
of approach through H... Chargé d'Affaires at Peking. Continual
representations locally by a Chinese represent- ative would serve only
to increase the friation without removing mis- understandings. In the
long run I am not sure that this would not even make things more
difficult for H.M, Chargé d'Affaires, since such representations here
might only make necessary yet further represent- ations and explanations
in Peking. As regards local left-vity; activities, the representative
would, no doubt, take these generally under his wing, attending
banquets, making speeches and organising shows on overy possible
occasion. He could also easily become a "Court of Appeal" for Chinese
residents in their relations with local authorities.
5.
I am not impressed by the suggestion that such an appointment would
facilitate trade. The Bank of China and the China Resourcus Company
already have offices here capable of handling financial and trade
matters and there are four other Chinese State or Semi-State owned
organisations and at least a hundred private concerns handling the
Chinese import and export trade.
4.
It is true that an official representative would, no doubt, absorb some
of the present unofficial functions of the New China Nows Agency and the
China Travel Service. I do not, however, consider that this would be to
our advantage. Such contacts as we have with those organisations are, at
present, informal and at a low level and, to a
/large
SEORET
GUARD
2.
}
large extent, we can use them or ignore them as we please, just as wo
can ignore the Percy Chens and the Ko Cheuk Hungs. Nor am I suro that an
official representative would become the central point for Chinese
clandestine activities. I think it more likely that the present
organisations would continue to act independently, each in its own
sphere, as they appear to do at present, under direction from Canton,
and I do not think that the presence of an official representative would
make this aspect of the situation either better or worse, except perhaps
in so far as he might claim immunity for his staff, his promises and his
correspondence. Whether or not immunity were recognised, it would be
most embarrassing if Chinese wanted by the Police were to seek asylum in
his premises.
5.
Such an appointment would, I fear, almost certainly have a bad effect on
local morale, since it would be regarded as evidence that ! we were
unable to resist pressure from the Communist regime. Neutralists and
"fence-sitters" would then be the more inclined to throw in their lot
with the Communists. This might to some extent be mitigated if we
obtained some reciprocal facility, such as the reappointment of a Consul
(under whatever title) in Canton. But I fear that a strong impression
would remain that this was but a first step in the Chinese "take-over".
(On the basis of a remark made to me by Ko Cheuk Hung, after his return
from Peking, I mentioned the possibility of such a request at a recent
Executive Council meeting. The reaction of the Chinese members was that
such an appointment would have a bad effect), The Americans might also
read it, and developments arising from it, as a first step in our
surrender of Hong Kong and be the core inclined to regard the Colony as
"expendable". It is possible that some people, particularly in the long
term, might interpret the move as a belated recognition by the Chinese
authorities of Hong Kong's status and a normalising of our relations
with China. This could have a beneficial effect an morale, but I do not
think this would outweigh the immediately adverse effect.
The
6.
As regards the title, I agree that that suggested by the Chinese would
probably be least offensive from our point of view. title of
Consul-General (which I agree the Chinese would, in any case, be
unlikely to accept) would, unless otherwise specified, carry with it the
right to protect Chinese nationals, i.e. to interfere in every case
involving most of the population, while that of "Special Commissioner"
would imply some sort of priority over other Commissioners, such as
those from the Commonwealth, I fear, however, that, whatever the title
(except perhaps that of "Trade Commissioner", which I imagine the
Chinese would not accept), we should have great difficulty in defining,
or confining, the representative's functions. If we were to avoid
constant friction it would be important to have his functionS clearly
defined; on the other hand, apart perhaps from trade promotion, it is
difficult to see what they would be and it is most unlikely that we and
the Chinese authorities could agree on a definition. T.W. Kwok'a
functions were never defined. We would, I prosume, refuse to discuss
with him matters of policy on the grounds that these were for H.. G. in
the United Kingdom and the Chinese Government to discuss with the
accredited diplomatic representatives in London and Poking. But the
borderline, e.g. in such matters as Immigration Controls or the running
of a through train to Canton might be difficult to define. We should
like to lay it down that he should not interfere in the internal affairs
of the Colony (such a condition was apparently envisaged in the
agreement reached for appointment of a Consul-General in 1941 - Sir Mark
Young's despatch of 29th July, 1946, copied to H., Ambassador at Nanking
under cover of Hong Kong despatch No. 10 refera); but this again might
bo difficult to define (or to get the Chinese to accept) and, in any
case, I fear that he would so interfere. We might then have to declare
him persona non grata and ask for his removal. Finally, we must regard
this proposal in the general context of the current prossure to bring
THE
L
/the
PGFD/guh
SECRET
3.
GUARD
the people of Hong Kong into ever closer relationship with their
compatriots on the mainland. The campaign, which will no doubt increase,
for cultural exchanges, unrestricted travel over the border, visits to
exhibitions in Canton, etc., are all designed to draw the population of
Hong Kong more and more into the orbit of the People's Government. This
type of insidious pressure is going to be far more difficult to meet and
counter than overt hostility; it will be doubly so if it is openly
organised and directed by an accredited representative in our midst.
7.
As seen from here, the whole proposal bristles with difficulty and
embarrassment. The Chinese will, of course, represent it as a
manifestation of their desire for "peaceful coexistence". I am not sure,
however, that we did not "coexist" more easily in the past few years of
"cool aloofness" than we do now in an atmosphere of blandishment ani
pressure. For the reasons given above, I doubt whether the appointment
of a Chinese Representative would improve this situation.
י
+
+
Cypher/OMP
Hr. O'Neill
No. 135
F
CONFI DENTI, AL
FROM PIKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE
€1143/2
DEPARTMENTAL
DISTRIBUTION
D.8.25 a.m. February 27,1956
R.9.54 a.a. February 27,1955
February 27,1956
CONTIDENTIAL
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 135 of February 27 Repeated for
information to:- Hong Kong
and Saving to
Washington Singapore
FC114211
Hy telegram No. 132: Chinese representations in
nong Kong.
As seen from here this proposal appears acceptable and indeed welcome.
FED
2. My reasons for this view are
(a)
it amounts in effect to Chinese recognition of the status quo in Hong
Kong and, as such, can perhaps be taken as an indication of the Chinese
Government's intention to respect that status at all events for the
immediate future. Title of Commissioner has been chosen to avoid the
admission (which would follow from the title of Consul General) that
Hong Kong is foreign territory; but I understand that the Chinese
Government's representative in Hong Kong before 1949 was likewise known
as a Special Commissioner. It is clear from the present proposal that
the Commissioner would represent the Chinese Kinistry of Foreign Affairs
and not some other departuent or the Chinese Government as a whole;
(b) though this is rather for the Governor of Hong
Kong than ayself to judge, it seems from here that the establishment of
such an office would be convenient in several respects. It would provide
an official channel for conducting business and
/relieve...
IA
CONFIDENTIA,
Ne
Poking telegram No. 135 to Foreign Office
-2-
relieve organizations, such as the New China News Agency and the China
Travel Service, of the functions they now exercise in Hong Kong. Chinese
Government already no doubt have
The
numerous agents of various kinds in Hong Kong and it is perhaps as well
that there should be one central point;
(c) the proposal may indicate Chinese intentions to
increase the proportion of Chinese imports and exports channelled
through Hong Kong.
3. You and the Governor of Hong Kong will, no doubt, consider whether,
if we wish to accept this proposal, the opportunity should be used to
ask for any reciprocal concessions in China e.g. in Canton.
Foreign Office pass to Hong Kong and Saving to Washington and Singapore
as ay telegrams Nos. 72,4 and 24.
[Repeated Saving to Washington and Singapore and copy
sent to Telegraph Section C.0. for repetition to Hong Kong].
DISTRIBUTED TO:-
Far Eastern Department
South East Asia Department Economic Relations Departaent Hutual Ald
Department
News Department
+
Cypher/OTP.
Mr. O'Neill
No: 132
CONFIDENTIAL
FROM PEKING 20 FOREIGN OFFICE
DEPARTAFNTAL DISTRIBIETOE
D: 6.14 a.m. February 25, 1956. R: 8.52 a.m. February 25, 1956.
February 25, 1956.
CONFIDENTIAL
C143
Addressed to Foreign Office telerran No: 132 of February 25 Repeated for
information to:
Hong Kong.
and Saving to:
Washington.
Singapore.
Hong Kong.
The Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs asked me to call this morning.
Reading from a prepared text he said that in view of increasing business
relations between Hong Kong and the Interior and in order to facilitate
negotiations of common interest and discussion of commercial questions,
the Chinese Government would like to establish in Hong Kong an office of
a Commissioner of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China. The
office would consist of a Commissioner together with diplomatic and
other staff. He asked me to convey this to you and said that the Chinese
Government would like to learn the views of Her Majesty's Government.
2. I will telegraph my comments Monday.
Foreign Office pass Washington and Singapore as my Saving telegrams Nos:
39 and 21.
[Repeated Saving to Washington and Singapore]
DISTRIBUTED TO:
For Eastern Department,
South-East Asia Department.
Economic Relations Department. Mutual Aid Department.
JJJJJ
25
FED
1903
AN
MIMISE OFFICIAL REPRESENTATION AT HONG KONG
Loth theso papers were written sa historical minutos for the information
of Par Jastern Department and it is not intended that they shall have
eny further aistribution. Their inclusion in the list of Resoorch Papers
was inadvertent.
+
F.O.R.D.
China section April 12, 1956.
9062/237/10
1941.
CHIEBE CHICIAL REPR BENTATION AT HONG FORU
The quertion of the appointment of a Chinoro Conrul- vôneral at Hong
Kong was fir:t raised in 1869 and was r.polutely opposed by the Hong
Yong morcontile community, who Jure ofraid that the prosunce in the
Colony of such en Officer would create a contro of intrigue and that ho
woulo insist on putting his finger in the pie concerning mattera
offectin, anyone of chinos3 ruco - born or of chinose notionelity - a
question which was Rodo
whother Hun, Zong the Lore complicɛ ted by the oxistence of dual
nationality.
The Chinoso request was refused and wetter romainuŭ quiescent, but
nimwring only jugt below the surface, until the autumn of 1940, when the
Chinese Government once more returned to the charge.
The Hong Kong Government recom...onded that the appointment be a reed
upon, subject to two conditions:
+
(a) "That it would be clearly understood by both sidos that
this functionary would not be privileged to reprosent the views of
kriti. h citizeno of chinese race or of Chincse citizons domiciled in
Hun。 Kon, on questions relating to the domestic affairs of the colony
and
(b) that he would not be a party to any attempt to invado
Iritish sovereignty in this Colony"
Those conditions were questioned by the Chinese Government, who wished
it clearly understood that they would not ocbar the Consul Gonorel from
performing all the normal functions of a consular representativo,
And, on re-consideration, it was not thought advisable to insist too
strictly on the unreserved acceptance by the 41750/207/10 Chinese
Government of stipulation (a), especially in respect of Chinona citizens
who were not also Eritich subjects.
1942
T
In agreement with the Coloniel authorities, therefore, 1...'‚Ambassador
at Chungking was instructed to inform the Chinese Government that:
P.150,4/287/10
1541
4/02/15/
1946
"the consul-venerol will cortainly be permitted to
perform all the normal r'unctions of a consular roprenentative gant from
one country to another which oro generally recognised by international
los and usage provided that it is cloorly under- atood that we expect
him to cenform to tho stipulatione previously laid down.
Owing to the outbreak of war with Japan, howovor, this royly does not
appocr cvor to have boon sunt to the chinese Haniator for Foreign
Affairs.
At the timo of negotiating the re-opening of major ritish consuler posto
in chine in 1940, the offer to accept
1
-
the point...nt of a Chinoso Consul-enorol in long Fon, wES Ponovou. Who
Chinero appear to avo boun takan aback at
this offer. They Lode a va uo roforonco to it in conversation, but never
replied to the official communication.
In augtember, 1945, the officer Administering the Govern...unt of ton,
Fon au_estod to ... Ambassador ot Chun,- king th: t il Chinuse
Government to invited to necrodit a .7/10 Liaison Officer to Hong Kong,
"pendin ̧ consideration of the
appointment of a Chinose Consul-jon÷ről,"
+
10
2075/1957/10
1549
+
A note from the chinese inistry of "oreign Affairs _r.od in principle to
the "atetioning by the Chinong overnment of on of icin in on Yon, in
orace to koop compot in political end aconomical spheros" and nominated
a
1.INOK, Special Lulo_ato of the Kinistry of Forei_n
cire in Tuan,tung and Hwan si, to act temporarily and "concurrently with
his other dutics"
11. TWO duly arrived in lien, Kon, in lovonber, 1945, but Bo GoOs not
appear to have presentad any credentials, nor does it seam that seny
officiel intimation of his official decignation ever reached the liong
Kon, Govern.ont.
In Doculber, 1949, ur. Fyor pakod for advance informa- tion concernin_
reco_nition of the Communists.
Ho was told that he could not have this informotion. His requoot was
intorproted at the time as indicating a wish to meke his peace with the
Communists end to stay on in Hong rong in has officiel capacity. There
is nothing to chow if he did, in fact, opproach the Communists, but r.
KWOK Booms to have quietly faded away.
Towards the end of December, 1945, there was a Lood dval of
correspondence concernin, the title of the Chinung representative in
Bong Kon ̧ after the chengo ovor. It wee finally egroud that the Chinoso
representativo should not to a Concul-general, but at the som time it
was not desirable that the title should be "special Commissioner" og
this title has boun gonorally used for Chinose posts in China itsolf.
The Governor of Hong Kon, Buggested that parhope it Light be possible to
arrange for soms auch alternativo as "Rouresentative in Hon, Zon, of the
Chinese Linistry of Porción Affairs" or other siciler title.
30 far as it is possible to trace, there the mattor hao rosted until the
receipt of Peking Telogram Nos. 152 and 135 of 1956.
for Castorn repart...ont.
(A.S. Comple11)
1:3:56
China Soction. F.0.R.D.
(r. Symon).
P.S. From a momorandum propored in Hong Kong in 1949 and untered in
7.16732/1909/10, attached, it would appear that in 1:57, tho Chinose
Government appointed a "Special Comissioner for Foreign Affairs for
"wongtung and Kwangol", ke oppoare to have bean a refugee frol, Cinton
end it is not stated if he was recognised as e chinoco officiel in the
colony by the Hong Kon ̧ Government, or merely allowed to carry on
whatever his Chinese Government functions were and no questiona eskod by
the on, Fon, authoritios.
Howhere can I find it statod what Kr. "wok'e official functions were
when he returned to Hon, Fon, in Novu...ber 1945, Lat I have an id.e
that he was chiefly concerned with chinese pasaport.. Pare. 9 of the
Hong Kong monorandum in .16732 statoa that a Chinese Consuler Invoico
office was opuned in 1954 "thus partly establishin, a precedent for
openings a Consulatu."
[
1906)
יז
ST. DER KLEMATION IN HONG-KONG
hin vory complicated quortion is not coped by the fret that normal
diplo..ntic relations Latween the U.7. (nd Chẳng hrvo not yet boon
ontabilched. The position of the krit.ch consulato-Gonoral in gh nühel
on an office of the Chrup d'affaires and not a consuleto odos ctron_th
to the Chinesa request for the appointment of a special Comissioner
rather tha: a consul-General in Hon Yung.
clearly, in recent years the Chinoru have deliberatoly ovoided Loking
the appointment of a conruler ofiicer, undor that nolo, to lion on....
The reason bein, of course, that tic appointment of a consul or
concul-General woule declero waforu the world, and Lore importent still
to thy Chino.o public, China's reco"nition of Kong ron's foreign stɩ
tua.
When, in ruptomber, 19hp, the Officer foministering the Govern ent of
lion, rong supported that the chines0 Goverment occrcolt a Liaison
Officer to Hon, Yon, "pending consideration of the appointment of a
chinoco cuncul-Jeneral, the Chinono Pinistry of Porción Af.oirs were
quick to a ̧rJo in principle to the stetioning of an officiɛl in fion,
Yonj in order to keep contact in political and economic sphorus. No
mention vos naue of any intention to appoint e concul- Juncr: 1. Dr.
7707, the Special polente of the Ministry of Povuijn Affairs in Tvantung
and won_ci, was nominc tod to fill the post of Liaison Oficer in Hon,
Yon, "concurrently
th his other dutios". Thur the Chinuco contention that nong Fon, was
Chinoso territory was not contradicted.
L
·
In 1949 tha Hong Kong Govern, ont were worried ovo. tho question of
Chinoso representation in the Colony after the rscomition of the
People's Government. It was then Generelly @grood that the Chinone
representative should not
06 Concul-Gunoral, and that it was not decireblo also that he should
boar the title of "Opucir 1 Commiss_onor", a title gener:lly used for
Chinoso posts in China itnolí. The Governor puglected that parh pa some
such alternative Ra....3 DG "Represantetive in Hon, Yong of the Chinose
Ministry of Toreign Affairs" might to scceptod.
י.
What the difference between "spacial Commission-1" and "peprosontativu
in Heng Fon, of the chinose inirtry of Jorelyn Afisirs" is, or just what
the objection woo to whot would see.. infinitely the more profertblo
title of Consul-uner: 1, is not cicar. Fut it will be interestin to 800
what the Governor of Hong Kong's reactions or to the procent ruquest,
which is, in effect, a requ at for the ecc...tance of a "Representative
in Hon Xon of the Cuinese : inistry of Poreign Affairs". The title in
chinuse would 1. likely "Chucn yuon" or "z'e p'si yuan" either colca to
the sole thing.
Chinese
The orun of the question soome t mo to lie botw.on the appointment of a
Chinese consul-conaral, thus vinifying Chineco rd...ittance that Hong
Ton, is not Chinore territory, ona a Chinoco Goverment official residing
in the colony under any other titlo bo it commissioner, Spocial
Commissionur, or representativo susceptible of preserving the chinopy
misrepresentation of ownership of the icland. The letvor is probably the
chief reason for the desire to
/appoint
appoint an officially recognised reprosentativo at all; althou_h othor
advants,os, vorticularly in connexion with the bringing to book of
K.M.F. cgenta, may also be envisaged.
Prosume bly, internationel custom would prevent the suje. tion that a
consul-General be appointed to Hon, Yong before diplomatic relations
between the two countries have boca regularised. I cannot help feelin,
however, that the safest answer to the Chinese request, at any reto in
the first instance, would be that the Hong Kong vovernment are prepared
to acquioace in a roquest, if formally prosented, for the immediate
nomination of a spocial Liaison Officer, pending the appointment of a
Chinese Consul-General on the resumption of formal diplomatic relations
between tho U.F. and China.
The Chinese ore scarcely likely to eccopt the proviso, but it geoms to
me worth attempting.
Per Seatern pepartment.
(A. R. Campbell)
F.O.K.D. (China Scetion)
13/3/56
+
!
FED, FCO.
12/4/70
मद
With the Compliments of the
R.C. 2014 M. Compton
jecive. Enter +
RECEIVED IN!
Political Adviser. Y
H
Đúng rồng
1
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CABLE AND WIRELESS LIMITED
COURT ROOM
ADRACINIY HOCHG-TILEGUDALING ROAN JONDDON WO+VILLEPHONE OVEN KANS
Dear Sir,
20th March, 1972
We refer to our letter PED/52017JER
dated 28th January, particularly paragraph two.
Apart from airline private leases we have had expression of considerable
interest from news agencies including 'AFP, AP, UPI and Reuters for
leases from China to Hong Kong.
It may be possible to provide temporary.
arrangements. pending finalisation of your general plans.
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We should like to be able to discuss this and the other, matters in our
previous letter to which we hope a favourable reply will be forthcoming
in the not too distant future.
We also understand that a request has been made for a small party of
engineers and officials, some of whom may presumably be from your
administration, to visit our satellite stations in Hong Kong.
Please be assured that such a visit is most welcome and we shall be
delighted to afford all the facilities and hospitality at our disposal.
:
Yours faithfully,
to H
# Davies.
W. H. Davies Director
Mr. Chung Fu-hsiang,
Director of the General Administration
of Telecommunications,
Peking,
Peoples Republic of China.
c.c. Political Advisèr.
P.M.G.
THI
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Director,