TNAG-0566-FCO40-699-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-change-in-Chinese-leadership-1976 — Page 31

BY BAG

CONFIDENTIAL

(44) in SCR 4/3571/62

JFR Martin Esq

Far Eastern Department FCO

(13)

譬

Government

27 September, 1976

M. Mon

to dee

2

Exte

سلام

2013

DEATH OF CHAIRMAN MAO

With reference to the last sentence of my letter of 22 September, the NCNA have now cancelled the reception which they were going to hold on 30 September and we understand that other National Day celebrations scheduled for 1 October have also been cancelled in keeping with paragraph 1 of Peking telegram No 760 of 24 September.

2.

With reference to paragraph 4 of my letter of 22 September, I enclose a copy of the letter of thanks which the Governor received from the NCNA, thanking him for his wreath and his attendance in person at the mourning service for Chairman MAO which was held in Hong Kong. As far as ve are avare, this must be the first written communication from a Chinese official addressed to the Governor of Hong Kong since 1949, you may like to check from your records. The letters addressed to Alan Donald and john Curle were very similar, but did not include thanks for any wreath.

CC

T J David Esq

Hong Kong Department FCO

RR Garside Esq

PEKING

(CDS Drace-Francis)

CONFIDENTIAL