TNAG-0668-FCO40-817-Visit-of-Prime-Minister-of-Western-Samoa-to-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 5

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CONFIDENTIAL

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A E Donald Esq

28 July 1977

For the

of Hong Kong's trying to dodge becoming the venue for conferences to which Soviet bloc nationals may or will be invited. rest, it looks as though we can pass most propositions about conferences in Hong Kong on the nod.

4. It would be interesting to know why the NCNA representatives in Hong Kong are apparently keen on conferences being held there. Is the idea that they would be able to do a little propaganda work on participants from other countries and/or a little negotiation on behalf of the authorities in Peking? I wonder if the NČNA represent- atives might have had a word with the Tanzanian and Zambian represent- atives at the Commonwealth Finance Ministers' meeting last year about how the Chinese-built TANZAM railway is getting along! Is the NCNA's interest in conferences being held in Hong Kong but another illustration of China's using the territory as a "window on the outside world"? If you have any thoughts on the NCNA's reasons for speaking to the Western Samoans as they did we and FED would like to have them.

cc: Chancery, PEKING

Mr Orr (FED)

Mr Hime (SWPD)

bc: D. Wilson Esq

Cabinet Office

D F Milton

Hong Kong & General Department

CONFIDENTIAL