SECRET

73

TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 305 OF 19 MARCH/INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING.

FOLLOWING FOR WILFORD FROM GOVERNOR.

PEKING TELEGRAM 3871 LI CHU-SHENG,

I MUST SAY I TOO WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED AT THE SENSE OF THESE
INSTRUCTIONS, UNLESS YOU AND HM AMBASSADOR ARE AGREED THAT THERE IS A
STRONG PROBABILITY THAT THE CHINESE WOULD WITHDRAW GRACEFULLY AS
ORIGNIALLY FORECAST BYPEKING, BUT ON THE BASIS OF A DIFFERENT FORMULA.
IF THERE IS NO SUCH PROBABILITY I FAVOUR ACQUIESCENCE.

MACLEHOSE

FILES HKIOD FED

MR WILFORD

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]

SECRET

X

AP

28/3

128

IMMEDIATE

GR 40.

J H

SECRET

DESKBY 191000Z

CYPHER CAT A

FM PEKING 197330Z

SECRET

DESKBY 191006Z

1973

TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELEGRAM NO 307 OF 19 MARCH/INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG (
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR).

FOLLOWING PERSONAL FOR WILFORD FROM AMBASSADOR.

YOUR TELNO 353- LI CHU-SHENG.

YOUR TEL HAS EVIDENTLY CROSSED WITH MY TELNO 360 OF 15 MARCH. DO YOU
NEVERTHELESS WISH ME TO GO AHEAD ON THE BASIS OF YOUR TEL UNDER
REFERENCE?

ADDIS

A

IL

·

!

FILES

HKI OD

FED

MR WILFORD

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28/3

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LMEDIATE

YPHER CAT A

FM PEKING 158400Z

SECRET

SECRET

1973

27

ADOO DOL

TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELEGRAM NO 360 OF 15 MARCH INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG (
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR).

FOR WILFORD FROM AMBASSADOR.

HONG KONG TELNO 288: VISA APPLICATION BY LI CHU-SHENG.

1. MY EARLIER TELEGRAM WAS CONCERNED WITH THE MODALITIES OF

AN APPROACH TO THE CHINESE IF THE DECISION IS TAKEN NOT TO ACCEPT

THIS APPOINTMENT. I STILL THINK THAT IF ACTION IS TAKEN WITH

THE CHINESE IT IS BETTER THAT IT SHOULD BE TAKEN IN PEKING AND IN

THE FORM OF AN ATTEMPT TO GET THE CHINESE TO WITHDRAW

THE APPLICATION RATHER THAN A BLANK REFUSAL. IF I AM TO TAKE ACTION OF
THIS KIND, I SHALL OF COURSE NEED TO BE CAREFULLY BRIEFED

ON THE PRECISE PHRASES AND FORMULAE THAT CAN BE USED.

I SHOULD HAVE TO MAKE THE BEST OF THE KATERIAL WHICH CAN DE

APPROVED IN THIS WAY, HOWEVER RESTRICTED IT HAS TO BE.

2. 1 HAVE HOWEVER BEEN HAVING FURTHER THOUGHTS ON WHETHER

THE WHOLE EXERCISE IS WORTHWHILE AT ALL.

WE KNOW THAT THE CHINESE WILL CARRY CUT UNITED FRONT ACTIVITIES

IN HONG KONG IN ANY EVENT.

M ANY EVENT. IF LI CHU-SHENG DOES NOT GO,

SOMEONE ELSE WILL BE APPOINTED TO CARRY OUT THE WORK HE WAS SUPPOSED TO
DO. THE NATURE AND SCOPE OF THAT WORK WILL DEPEND NOT ON

THE INDIVIDUAL CARRYING IT OUT BUT ON THE POLICIES AND GUIDELINES THAT
ARE LAID DOWN IN PEKING.

Х

YAP 2813

SECRET

/3. THE ONLY

+

P

I

-

SECRET

3. THE ONLY VALID REASON THEREFORE THAT I CAN SEE FOR TAKING

THE RISKS INVOLVED IN TRYING TO OBTAIN THE CANCELLATION

OF LI CHU-SHENG'S APPOINTMENT IS THAT THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIS

INTELLIGENCE AND SUBVERSIVE RECORD IN INDONESIA AND OF HIS REFUSAL

BY THE SWISS IS SO WIDESPREAD

THAT THE APPOINTMENT WOULD HAVE A VERY UNFORTUNATE EFFECT ON

OPINION IN HONG KONG.

4. ON THE POINT OF SUBSTANCE THEREFORE I THINK THAT MY

RECOMMENDATION FROM HERE MUST BE THAT WE SHOULD SIMPLY ACQUIESCE

IN THE APPOINTMENT WITHOUT TRYING TO GET IT WITHDRAWN,

ADDIS

FILES

HKI OD FED

MR WILFORD

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]

-2- SECRET

A

Secretary of State.

26

Mr Evans

Mr Wxford

Mr Logan

SECRET

Agreed.

N.R.

The Private Secretary

THE NONA REPRESENTATIVE IN HONG KONG

(24 11.

M' bilfers.

2) M

1

The Governor of Hong Kong has sent us an account of the ways in which he
has already improved the treatment which he gives to the head of the
NCNA in Hong Kong. The purpose of this improvement is to take some of
the heat out of Chinese requests for the appointment of an Official
Representative of their Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong.

美しい

2. The Governor asks that we should make no mention of these very minor
moves in any discussions about the Represen- tation issue with the
Chinese.

3.

I believe this advice to be right, and recommend we should follow it.
Sir Murray Maclehose also suggests a plausible line for us to follow
(para 6) should the Chinese themselves refer to the changes which have
been made.

Gellark

GB Clark

Far Eastern Department

24/3

15 March 1973

I think in ai we showed fall in with The Governor's request and his

suggestion

Chinese comments. The argument in

abow responding! Paragraphs of his leve are, i om save, rocid. Mi Stuart
agrees.

2. I submit a drafi reply.

R.M. Evens

Sagree

RET

15 March, 1973.

I

LAMEDIATE

CYPHER/CAT A

FM HONG KONG 1407102

SECRET

SECRET

TO IMMEDIATE F C O TELNO 288 OF 14TH MARCH, 1973. INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
(PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR).

FOR WILFORD FROM GOVERNOR.

VICA APPLICATION BY LI CHU-SHENG.

WITH THE FACTS ESTABLISHED I SUGGEST WE REVERT TO NORMAL CHANNELS,

(

2. I AM AFRAID I WOULD SEE SERIOUS OBJECTION TO THE INCLUSION IN

ANY REPRESENTATIONS, WHEREEVER MADE, OF HM AMBASSADOR'S PROPOSED SECOND
SENTENCE. THIS IS BECAUSE IT SO GREATLY OVERSTATES THE PRESENT FOSITION
AS TO IMPLY A PROMISE OF A NEW RELATIONSHIP. WHILE I WISH GRADUALLY TO
ACHIEVE THIS, I DO NOT WANT THIS TO BE THE SUBJECT OF AN IMPLIED OR
DEDUCED PROMISE, NOR DO I WANT THESE MOVES, WHICH I HAVE INITIATED,
DISCUSSED OR ACKNOWLDGED ON THE OFFICIAL KET, AT ANY RATE UNTIL THEY
HAVE GOT A GOOD DEAL FURTHER (PARA 5 CF MY LETTER TO YOU OF 3 MARCH
REFERS)

يمرغ

3. IN CASE YOU MAY AGREE WITH THE FOREGOING, AND BEFORE HIS SOBUST AND
HELPFUL PROPOSAL IS CONSIDERED FURTHER, H.M. AMBASSADOR MIGHT LIKE TO
SAY WHETHER HE CONSIDERS HIS PROPOSED LINE WORTH FOLLOWING SUPPOSING
THIS DELETION WERE MADE.

MACLEHOSE

FILES

HKI OD PED

FORD

SECRET

MR WILFORD

ます

18/3

SECRET

36

GOVERNMENT HOUSE HONG KONG

香港總督府

Minnie?

3rd March 1973

Des Michel,

R.EX 1573.

FED

PARION ACSIS'S

I agree with x over. I think a

Jag

bulanssin we the wrie sa kat

• add comand kuns the tim

Mur'

In my despatch of 11th January about representation I reported that I
would seek gradually to establish a working, but unofficial and
unrecognised, relationship with the head of NCNA here, Liang Wai-lam. I
will not report to you blow by blow, because the details of each little
incident are so trivial.

2.

However, I should tell you that at the Cuban National Day, i.e. on 29
January, I did say to him that while as he knew I was accessible to
everyone, and that many people from all sections of the community came
to see me, I noticed that he never did so. I therefore wanted him to
know that if he ever did want to have a chat with me my door was open
and I would be glad to see him.

3.

He subsequently reported this with every sign of pleasure to Dick Lee
(who as you may know is the member of the Lee family who keeps contact
with the Left). After explaining what I had said he asked Dick whether
he, Dick, ever invited me to dinner. Dick reported all this to me and I
told him to reply. if Liang pressed him, that he understood that I dined
out very little, but that since I was a notoriously straight-forward
person, if I had suggested that he could see me if he wanted to, it
might be better if Liang took me at my word instead of trying to fix up
a rendezvous through third parties.

4.

We have since heard that Liang has reported my offer to Peking.

5.

I do not know what if anything will result. But I would repeat here what
I said in the despatch. This is a delicate business, and the pace cannot
be forced. Nor in my opinion, would the MFA ever accept that an
unofficial contact, even if well-established

K.M. Wilford Esq., CMG,

Foreign & Commonwealth Office.

SECRET

SECRET

2.

X

and considerably used, was any substitute for the official
representation they have demanded. I do therefore ask that these
tentative and in themselves insignificant moves should not be referred
to in any discussions about the representation issue with the MFA or the
Chinese ambassador in London.

6.

If by any chance they themselves make some reference to the departure
from tradition, I suggest that you should not enlarge on it or in any
way claim credit, but merely say that it would appear to be more
consistent with the friendly relations now established between HMG and
the CPG.

7.

John Addis.

I am sending a copy of this letter to

You

12--1

SECRET

COVERING SECRET

Mr Wilford

Iki

HONG KONG : AIR SERVICES NEGOTIATIONS AND CHINESE

REPRESENTATION

1. I submit a draft telegram in reply to Hong Kong

telegram No 234. Mr Stuart concurs in its terms.

2.

(a) and (b) in paragraph 3 are based on a

conversation which I had with the Private Secretary

yesterday evening.

R M Evans

1 March 1973

Far Eastern Department

CONFIDAVALAL

23

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+

OUTWARD

FAR EASTERN

stiment

Drafted by

TELEGRAM

<Black Capitali}

RM EVANS

Tel. Extn.

MA 553

DESKBY

FOR

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(Date)

USE

Despatched

POSTBY

(Time)

Z

PREAMBLE

Security Clasification

SECRET

Precedence PRIORITY

| (Time of Origin)

"Z(G.M.T.)

(Restrictive Prefix}..

Caveat/

CYPHER

(Security Class.)-

Privacy Marking)

(Coderoord)

(Deskby)

FRIORITY

GOVERNOR HONG KONG

TO.

(precedence)

(post) Governor)

(Personal fotel No.

AND TO (precedence/post)

AND SAVING TO

REPEATED TO (for info) PRIVNINY FAKING

Z

Distribution:-

Files

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KIMOD

SAVING TO (for info)

Bir Eric Norris

Dir Duncan watson Mr Wilford

Copies to:- Hong Long

Government Office

L

[TEXT]

Following from Wilford.

Your telegram No 234: AIR SERVICES NEGOTIATIONS AND

CHINES. RLFROSENTATION

1.

Thank you for the suggestion that the Secretary

of State might broach the subject of Chinese representation

with Chi P'eng-fei in Paris.

2. Pep much the same possono es pounselé, We are on

balance not inclined to brief the Secretary of State

to bring the subject up. Against the background of all

the Chinese have said to us about the negotiation of an

Air Services Agreement (Peking telegram No 145 and Fai

Hsiang-kuo's remarks to the becretary of State and

Er walker), we do not judge that the Chinese are likely

to make the negotiations of an Agreement conditional on

/a change

#1-

+

je in our position about representation.

We are

more likely to run into trouble over te veferenca: TO

merigration of Hong Kong

Spot in the

schedule annexed to any Agreement and/or over the service

of China Air lings to Hong Kong.

llavee

3. There are other considerations:

(a) Chi P'eng-fei did not mention the subject of

Chinese representation when the Secretary of State

gave him dinner in Paris on 27 February; it would

seem gratuitous for the Secretary of State to

broach the subject now;

(b) It now seems very much on the cards that Chi

P'eng-fei will pay his official visit to this country in May (we shall
telegraph separately

about this when the Secretary of State has had the

chance to have another word with Chi P'eng-fei

during his second visit to Faris); and

(c) Even if there is some risk of the Chinese

mentioning representation during the negotiation of an Air Services
Agreement, we think that our

primary interest is to get our timing right in

speaking to them about representation.

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

1

PRIORITY

SECRET

CYPHER CAT A

L

Copy on

(FE)

FM F C O #11738Z

SECRET

TO PRIORITY GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELNO 217 CF 01 MARCH/INFO PRIORITY
PEKING.

FOLLOWING PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM WILFORD.

YOUR TELNO 234: AIR SERVICES NEGOTIATIONS AND CHINESE REPRESENTATION

1. THANK YOU FOR THE SUGGESTION THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE MIGHT

BROACH THE SUBJECT OF CHINESE REPRESENTATION WITH CHI P'ENG-FEI

IN PARIS.

2. WE ARE ON BALANCE NOT INCLINED TO BRIEF THE SECRETARY OF STATE

TO BRING THE SUBJECT UP, AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF ALL THE CHINESE

HAVE SAID TO US ABOUT THE NEGOTIATION OF AN AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT
(PEKING TELMO 145 AND PAI PS|ANG-KLO'S REMARKS TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE
AND MR WALKER), WE DO NOT JUDGE THAT THE CHINESE ARE LIKELY

TO MAKE THE NEGOTIATIONS OF AN AGREEMENT CONDITIONAL ON A CHANGE

IN CUR POSITION ABOUT REPRESENTATION, WE ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO

RUN INTO TROUBLE OVER REFERENCES TO HONG KONG IN THE SCHEDULE

ANNEXED TO ANY ACREEMENT AND/OR OVER THE SERVICE OF CHINA AIRLINES

TO HONG KONG,

7. THERE ARE THREE OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:

(A) CHI P'ENG-FEI DID NOT MENTION THE SUBJECT OF CHINESE REPRESEN-

TATION WHEN THE SECRETARY OF STATE GAVE HIM DINNER IN PARIS ON. 27
FEBRUARY: IT WOULD SEEM GRATUITOUS FOR THE SECRETARY OF

STATE TO BROACH THE SUBJECT NOW:

(B) IT NOW SEEMS VERY MUCH ON THE CARDS THAT CHI P'ENG-FEI WILL PAY

HIS OFFICIAL VISIT TO THIS COUNTRY IN MAY (WE SHALL TELEGRAPH SEPARATELY
ABOUT THIS WHEN THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS HAD THE CHANCE TO HAVE
ANOTHER WORD WITH CHI P'ENG-FE1 DURING HIS

SECOND VISIT TO PARIS); AND

(C) EVEN IF THERE IS SOME RISK OF THE CHINESE MENTIONING REPRESEN-
TATION DURING THE NECOTIATION OF AN AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT, WE

THINK THAT CUR PRIMARY INTEREST IS TO GET OUR TIMING RIGHT IN

SPEAKING TO THEM ABOUT REPRESENTATION.

DOUGLAS-HOME

FILES

FED

HKIOD

SIR E NORRIS

SIR D WATSON

MR WILFORD

SECRET

COPIES TO:

HK GOVT OFFICE

6 GRAFTON ST LONDON W1.

PRIORITY

CYPHER CAT A

A FCO 1218467

DED IP

SECRET

SECRET

Now Enje.

R.E. 1572.

Mi Heine.da

не чей

M: Glook.au/

(FE)

The Foams

I have drawn on thi

1312. for the Inn of for pas

and Riome- for thriner cas

TO PRIORITY GOVERNOR HONG KONG(PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR) TEL NO 157 OF 12
FEBRUARY AND TO PEKING (PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR) INFO PRIORITY TOKYO
(PERSONAL FOR WILFORD)

R.E.

137:

HONG KONG TELEGRAMS NO 133 AND NO 142 AND PEKING TELEGRAM NO 109

(NONE TO TOKYO): CHINESE REPRESENTATION IN HONG KONG.

FOLLOWING FROM HORRIS.

Ex 5/6

#

1. WE ARE MOST GRATEFUL TO YOU SCTH FOR YOUR HELPFUL ADVICE ON

THIS DIFFICULT SUBJECT.

2. THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS DECIDED TO USE THE FOLLOWING FORMS

OF WORDS WHEN CHI P'ENG-FEI VISITS LONDON.

BEGINS:

''I DISCUSSED THIS SUBJECT WITH YOU AND WITH THE PRIME MINISTER

MIEN I VISITED CHINA LAST AUTUMN. I TOLD THE PRIME MINISTER ON 1

NOVEMBER THAT I WOULD LIKE TO THINK ABOUT THE MATTER AND I WOULD GET

IN TOUCH WITH YOU IN DUE COURSE.

THE POSITIONS OF OUR TWO GOVERNMENTS ON THE STATUS OF HONG KONG

ARE NECESSARILY DIFFERENT. BUT, AS I SEE IT, WE HAVE TWG IMPORTANT

INTERESTS IN COMMON, THESE ARE TO PRESERVE THE STABILITY AND

PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG AND TO PRESERVE THE RELATIONSHIP WHICH HAS

DEVELOPED BETWEEN OUR TWO COUNTRIES. SO FAR AS HONG KONG IS CONCERNED,
STABILITY AND PROSPERITY DEPEND ON COSFIDENCE. CONFIDENCE IS A TENDER
PLANT: IT GROWS ONLY SLOWLY, BUT CAN WILT VERY QUICKLY. IF, AS I
BELIEVE, WE SHARE AN INTEREST IN THE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF HONG
KONG, IT FOLLOWS THAT WE ALSO SHARE AN INTEREST

IN THE PRESERVATION OF CONFIDENCE THERE.

AS FAR AS THE RELATIONS BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA ARE CONCERNED,

THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT THAT THE SITUATION IN HONG KONG IS A FACTOR OF
IMPORTANCE, IF, THEREFORE, WE SHARE AN INTEREST IN PRESERVING COOD
RELATIONS BETWEEN OUR TWO COUNTRIES, WE ALSO SHARE AN INTEREST IN DOING
NOTHING IN, OR OVER, HONG KONG WHICH COULD DISTURB THE

SITUATION THERE.

I HAVE

SECRET

SECRET

I HAVE GIVEN MOST CAREFUL CONSIDERATION TO YOUR PROPOSAL SINCE I SPOKE
TO YOU AND THE PRIME MINISTER LAST AUTUMN. IN THE LIGHT OF THIS
CONSIDERATION I HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE TIME NOT RIPE FOR A
CHANGE IN THE PATTERN OF YOUR REPRESENTATION IN HONG KONG. I WOULD
THEREFORE ASK YOU NOT TO PRESS YOUR PROPOSAL. IT IS MY JUDGEMENT THAT IT
WILL BE SOME TIME BEFORE CIRCUMSTANCES MIGHT CHANGE IN SUCH A WAY AS TO
WARRANT AN ALTERATION IN THE ARRANGEMENTS

WHICH NOW EXIST''.

ENDS.

HE WILL GIVE CHI P'ENG-FEI A COPY OF THIS TEXT.

3. OUR PURPOSE IS TO PERSUADE THE CHINESE TO SHELVE THEIR PROPOSAL FOR A
MATTER OF YEARS, WITHOUT DOING ANY SERIOUS DAMAGE TO ARCLO- CHINESE
RELATIONS. WE BELIEVE THAT THE USE OF THIS FORM OF WORDS WILL GIVE US
THE BEST HOPE OF ACHIEVING THIS PURPOSE.

4. WE NOW KNOW THAT CHI P'ENG-FEI WILL NOT VISIT LONDON FROM 22 FEBRUARY
TO 25 FEBRUARY (PEKING TELEGRAM NO 157 HOT TO TOKYC). BUT THE SECRETARY
OF STATE WILL INEVITABLY SEE A GOOD DEAL OF HIM AT THE CONFERENCE ON
VIETNAM IN PARIS. WE SHALL RECOMMEND TO HIM THAT HE SHOULD NOT BROACH
THE SUBJECT WITH CHI PENG-FEI IN PARIS. WE SHALL ALSO RECOMMEND THAT, IF
THE LATTER SHOULD BRING IT UP, HE SHOULD CONFINE HIMSELF TO SAYING THAT
HE HAS GIVEN THE CHIMESE PROPOSAL KOST CAREFUL CONSIDERATION AND WILL BE
READY TO SPEAK ABOUT IT WHEN CHI P'ENG-FEI VISITS LONDON.

DOUGLAS-HOME

FILES

HD FED

HD HKIOD

PS/MR ROYLE PS/PUS

SIR E NORRIS MR WILFORD

2

·

SECRET

-

Sir Eric Nofris

SECRET

X

CHINESE REPRESENTATION IN HONG KONG

33.7

2

MiHeivel 13/2

Herus

mi Clark 1012 R.E.

Enier.

I submit a draft telegram to Hong Kong and to Peking

(to be repeated to Tokyo for Mr Wilford).

1.

2.

We now know for certain that Chi P'eng-fei will not

リマ

дво

be visiting London at the end of February (Peking telegram

1812.

13/2

A

No 157).

FEE

3.

Mr Stuart concurs.

12 February 1973

CC

R.M. Erans

RM Evans

Far Eastern Department

Mr Stuart (without attachment)

As proporca

14/2

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