CONFIDENTIAL
VISIT OF THE CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER
10-14 OCTOBER 1978
HONG KONG
Brief No 12
HKK 020/!
RECEIVED EN KEGISTRY NO. 51
12 OCT 1978
156
Hong Kong/Chinese Relations
DESK OFFICER
RE S RY
PA
Action T. en
INDEX
No
CLE
1. Relations with China over Hong Kong are better now than at any
time since the Communist victory in China. We have every reason to
believe that the Chinese share our interest in ensuring that this
state of affairs continues. We therefore expect them to take a helpful attitude towards finding a workable solution to the problem posed by the termination of the New Territories lease in 1997, even though formally they do not recognise the lease. In the meantime, they have deliberately sought to maintain confidence in the future of the Territory, both by public statements and by such actions as ensuring increased water supplies and investing in property in
Hong Kong.
2. Our own objective, and the one which we believe to be in the best interest of the people of Hong Kong, is to continue to administer
Hong Kong for as long as possible.
Chinese Representation in Hong Kong
3. From time to time the Chinese have asked to be allowed to appoint an official representative in Hong Kong. Successive British Governments have opposed such an appointment, which it is feared would undermine business confidence as well as create a possible alternative focus of loyalty that could make the Territory more difficult to administer. The Chinese have not seriously pressed this proposal since 1974, although they did raise it during
Mr Crosland's visit to Peking in 1976. It seems unlikely that they
will raise it on this occasion.
4. They seem content with the present arrangement under which the office of the New China News Agency in Hong Kong acts as an unofficial channel of communication between the Chinese and Hong Kong
CONFIDENTIAL
/Governments.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.