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further explanation had been provided (Mr Fergusson's minute of 3 December).
be.
7. In the present climate of relations between Britain and China the arguments are more finely balanced than they used to
But I share Sir M MacLehose's view that agreement to the appointment of an official representative is something which should only be considered in return for a substantial Chinese concession. It will be one of our best bargaining cards when we come, as we must, to discuss the future of Hong Kong with the Chinese and it would be a great mistake to play it prematurely. That said, I do not believe that our position on official representation would be prejudiced if the Governor were to attend the National Day reception. On the contrary, it is at least arguable that such a move, by enhancing the Director of NCNA's status as unofficial representative, would reduce any pressure there may be for the appointment of an official representative. It would certainly make it easier too for us to argue that in practical terms Wang K'uang can do all that an official representative could do, and that the Chinese had tacitly recognised this through Wang's call on the Governor and the latter's attendance at the National Day Reception.
8.
The Governor points out that there is likely to be some opposition to his attendance from his Executive Council, some members of which may regard it as the thin end of a powerful Chinese wedge. He has therefore considered three intermediate responses between outright acceptance and refusal. I agree with his view (see also Hong Kong Tel No 1109) that there is nothing
I also agree to be gained from any of these half-way solutions. with the Governor that EXCO, and local opinion generally will accept the Governor's attendance as a natural consequence of the present friendly state of relations, provided that it is made quite clear that it does not mark a change in our position on official representation. The Hong Kong Government will inevitably have to answer press enquiries on this point; the line proposed by the Governor (paragraph 11 of Hong Kong Tel No 1102) seems right. It would be prudent, as the Governor proposes,
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