TNAG-0743-FCO40-947-Relations-between-China-and-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 300

CONFIDENTIAL

HKK 020/1

RENLY..N

NO. 51

RECIS

CHOV

suly

81°

i

PA

काकन

Mr Murray

PS/Lord Goronwy-Roberts

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118

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DO

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GISA

HONG KONG/CHINA RELATIONS

1. The Governor of Hong Kong has been invited to attend a reception to mark the Chinese National Day which is to be given by the Head of the local branch of the New China News Agency (NCNA) on 30 September. (Hong Kong Tel No 1102).

On balance the Governor considers that he should accept this invitation (which would involve him in proposing a brief toast to the Chinese equivalent of Head of State. The Charge d'Affaires in Peking agrees (Peking Tel No 571). The Governor's attendance would however represent a significant departure from previous practice and would be seen as such by the Chinese and by local opinion in Hong Kong. He has therefore sought approval, if possible by the morning of 19 September, when he will need to discuss the matter with his Executive Council.

BACKGROUND

2. There is no official Chinese representation in Hong Kong; the local branch of the NCNA has traditionally acted as the link between the Hong Kong Government and the Chinese authorities in Canton and Peking. In July this year a new "No 1 Director" of the NCNA took up his post. The new man, Wang K'uang, had previously, though briefly, occupied a position in Peking roughly equivalent to that of Vice Minister and is thus the most senior Communist He has so Chinese official ever to be appointed to Hong Kong. far shown himself to be helpful and forward looking. On 7 September he paid a formal call on the Governor at Government House (Mr Orr's letter of 7 September refers). This call was unprecedented, and therefore in itself of no little significance.

CONFIDENTIAL

13.

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