CONFIDENTIAL
BRITISH EMBASSY,
PEKING.
Dr D C Wilson
HONG KONG
1
29 December 1977
ARK 40/548/1
لله
No ab of
I was interested to read your letter TS 7/1162/46 of 21 December to Richard Samuel about the future of Hong Kong.
2 My own explanation of why the Communist press did not print the remarks printed by the South China Morning Post would be a slightly different one. I think the answer lies, not in the status of the person who made the remark, but in the remark itself. The official formula concerning the future of Hong Kong is the one attributed to Mao and used by Li Ch'iang, the Linister of Foreign Trade in his article in Red Flag in November. This read:
"Hong Kong and Macau are part of the territory of our country, and more than 98% of their population are our compatriots. The problem of Hong Kong and Macau is one that has been left over from history and will be settled in an appropriate way when conditions are ripe.
Mr Chang's remarks went beyond this and in this respect he must have gone beyond his brief. If he had not the Communist press would have printed what he said. Once people begin to embroider on standard formulae on delicate subjects there is no knowing where things will lead. That is why the Communist press did not follow him in his embroidery.
3 Even so, it is a good thing that the remark has given confidence in Hong Kong. Mr Chang's political masters may have frowned on his embroidery: but they will not be unhappy with the effect.
Cc:
RC Samuel Esq, FCO
JAB Stewart Esq, FCC
HC Rainworth Esq, 7CC
KC Walker sq, Cabinet Office CW Squire Esa, Washington
CONFIDENTIAL
EDWARD YOUDE
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