TNAG-0376-FCO40-422-Discussions-with-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 19

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Hong Kong, specific things were said on the record by Ministers

and officials about improving the terms for Hong Kong. The

colony now looked to HMG to honour these assurances. One of them

was that after entry HMG would seek to mitigate discrimination

against Hong Kong. There would be serious political repercussions

if the UK were to discriminate against her own colony. The risk

of not succeeding was not a reason for not trying.

Sir Christopher Soames had said in Hong Kong that the Commission,

in considering the UK's alignment to the Commission's scheme, would

have to search for a compromise solution on the Hong Kong issue.

"e would let the department have a copy of the Hong Kong report of

Sir Christopher Soames' visit.

CHINESE REPRESENTATION IN HONG KONG

17. Mr Clark of Far Eastern Department joined the meeting for this

subject.

Mr Royle said that the FCO would be advising the Prime Minister to

adhere to the line which the Secretary of State and he had taken.

He asked Sir Murray MacLehose how his contacts with the New China

News Agency were going, Sir Murray MacLehose replied that they

were going well. There had been a set-back because the head of

NCNA, Mr Leung, had had to go into hospital in Peking. But he had

got himself invited when the Chinese Ping Pong Team visited Hong

Kong, had had a talk with Mr Li (his deputy and possible successor),

and had said he was always ready to see him. He was moving towards

the position where he and the head of the NCNA would go to each

/other's

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