TNAG-0521-FCO40-616-Visit-of-Lord-Goronwy-Roberts--Parliamentary-Under-Secretary-1975 — Page 115

with the Chinese.

The Governor however has argued, and we agree, that if we did so there would be a very real danger of the Chinese linking the matter with their request for the establishment of an official representative in Hong Kong. Moreover it is unlikely that the Chinese would be prepared to do more than give vague assurances which would not be of much help in practice.

If a specific issue cropped up, we might well consider it prudent to discuss this issue with the Chinese in advance of taking action on it but Lord Goronwy-Roberts has told Lord Kennet that in general it would be wise to let news of developments filter back to the

Chinese and not to make too much of a song and dance about them.

Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept. 7 January 1975

i

CONFIDENTIAL

}