布政司署
香港下亞
畢道
* OUR REF.:
SCR 1/4731/49
* Your Ref.:
CONFIDENTIAL
139
Hkk azalı
RECOME
OFFICEH
PA
GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT
LOWER ALBERT ROAD
HONG KONG
25 September, 1978
0. 5t
REGIS NY
Action Teken
pro 2/10
RJT Mckaren Esq
Hong Kong & General DepartmentDEX
F CO
Dear Robin,
No
lab
INVITATION TO CHINESE NATIONAL DAY RECEPTION
You may be interested in some background details on the invitation from NCNA for the Governor to attend the National Day reception on 30 September.
2.
At the time it seemed slightly unusual that, on a matter of such delicacy, Tan Kan of NCNA did not call but made the initial enquiry by telephone. On reflection, I am certain that this was deliberate. NCNA clearly did not wish the invitation to become a matter for political negotiations. In making the enquiry, Tan immediately explained that Wang K'uang would toast The Queen and that NCNA would follow to the letter the protocol which was normal for National Day receptions in Hong Kong.
3.
There was thus no further contact on the subject between us until I asked Mr Tan to call on 19 September. The meeting was arranged before I knew the result of the discussion in Executive Council that morning (we had other matters to raise with NCNA anyway). When Tan and Li Jo-ho arrived I greatly enjoyed spinning the preliminaries out with a few inconsequential matters. When I then said that I wished to convey the Governor's reply to Wang's kind invitation, both Tan and Li moved to the edge of their seats, Li with his notebook at the ready for every word. They clearly expected a positive reply but I sensed the slightest trace of apprehension. When the reply had been given, they were all smiles and the subsequent discussion of how to avoid hanging the Union Jack upside down was understandably the most lighthearted meeting I have had so far with NCNA. As I write, we have still not decided
CONFIDENTIAL
/contd....
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