TNAG-0367-FCO40-413-Visits-of-UK-Members-of-Parliament-to-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 22

CONFIDENTLAD

or 1961 (Dame Joan Vickers).

Dame Joan Vickers thought there

had been a considerable increase in the standard of living since

There were more bicycles, and there were more houses owned

by individuals in the communes.

1961.

5. During their visit to Shanghai the MPs had discussed with

members of the Shanghai Revolutionary Committee the phenomenon of

Wang Hung-wen. They were told that Wang was not a Shanghai man;

he had been born far from Shanghai and had never set foot in

Shanghai before the Cultural Revolution. Now he spent all his

time in Peking. It was therefore a mistake to see him as a

representative of Shanghai in the Central Party organs. The

Shanghai Revolutionary Committee had at least 8 other men who wore

as good as Wang.

6.

There was little discussion about trade during the visit

because they had no interviews with trade people. Mr Adley said that oil was something which we should pursue with the

t

Chinese. There were great opportunities for Oil Companies

which could find the right formula to put to the Chinese Govern-

ion

ment to share in the extract of China's oil reserves. The

Companies would have to be extremely tactful.

BP as a Company

with predominant Government control seemed to be a natural for

this purpose. Mr Royle said that we had already discussed this

with the Chinese. He had himself raised it in Peking in 1972 and

the Oil Companies were in touch with the Chinese.

7.

Several members pointed out that the Chinese had taken the visit extremely seriously and regarded it as very important.

They had asked numerous questions about the Anglo-Chinese

Parliamentary Group. Mr Royle said that he had looked into the

possibility of inviting a Chinese group on a reciprocal visit.

CONFIDENTIAL

4

/Не