40 Cents Sicmp. Thursday, June 8, 1972
Sino-British future rosy
BRITISH Foreign Under-Secretary Mr Anthony Royle left Hongkong last night for London after an eight-day visit to China, saying that "our relations with Peking will prosper."
"We differ on many subjects but my exchange of views cannot have been anything but valuable for our relations,"
Mr Royle spent two hours with Chinese Foreign Minister Chi Peng-fei and 10 hours with his counterpart, Vice-Foreign Minister Chiao Kuan-hua.
The British Minister said that "one or two matters relating to Hongkong" did come up at the talks, including improved communications between the colony and the mainland.
His statements were seen here as an indication that the political status of Hongkong would remain unchanged for the
foreseeable future.
The fact that China did not raise the question of the colony, which Peking regards as Chinese territory ceded under an unequal treaty, was also scen here as an indication that the status quo would continue.
Mr Royle said that he plans to return to Hongkong for more comprehensive talks with Government officials later this year.
He said he had discussed a wide range of International European and Asian questions. The talks were confidential and he could not disclose specific topics.
However he said trade technological, cultural and sports exchanges between the two countries had figured prominently.
A specific point mentioned was the establishment of bilateral civil air services and possible sale to China of the Anglo-French supersonic Concorde.
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