TNAG-0522-FCO40-617-Discussions-with-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 136

CONFIDENTIAL

8.

CHINESE REPRESENTATION

1.

The present Chinese Government first proposed in 1956

that a representative of their Ministry of Foreign Affairs should be established in Hong Kong and they have returned

to this proposal off and on since then. The Governor believes, and we have always accepted his view, that its acceptance would:

2.

(i) damage confidence in Hong Kong;

(ii) create an alternative focus of loyalty in

Hong Kong, thus making government of the

colony more difficult; and

(iii)

consequently damage relations between

China and the United Kingdom.

The last time it was officially raised was with Sir Alec Douglas-Home in June 1973. In June 1974 the Secretary of State said he was content to leave the present policy undisturbed for the time being but wished to discuss it with the Governor at the end of the year when he next returned for discussions. In the event the subject was not discussed and on 14 March 1975 Mr Ennals, in a written answer to a Parliamentary Question, replied that Her Majesty's Government is satisfied with the present position. We have no evidence that continued rejection of this proposal has harmed

or is harming our relations with the People's Republic of China. We would not recommend any change, but Lord Goronwy- Roberts may wish to ask the Governor for his latest views.

Hong Kong and Indian Ocean Department

7 April 1975

CONFIDENTIAL