TNAG-0291-FCO40-327-Constitutional-development-of-Hong-Kong-1971 — Page 47

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In the course of conversation with Mr. MacLehose today EV

he asked me whether there were any direct quotations of important Chinese personages about the impossibility of their accepting any constitutional advance in Hong Kong. He recalled that as long ago as 1956 or 1957 some unofficial visitor to China' had been told that China could not accept any form of constitu- tional advance in Hong Kong of the kind which we would recognise as a step towards decolonisation. I said that I was not aware of chapter and verse about this but had been brought up to believe that this was indeed the Chirse position.

2. Could you discuss this with your colleagues including Research Department and find out for me whether there are, in fact, any statements on the record by the Chinese about their position.

3 May 1971

Mis

K M Wilford

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Mr. Morgan, F.E.D.

Mr. F. Brewer, Research Department