TNAG-0744-FCO40-948-Relations-between-China-and-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 13

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two lesser organisers came separately and said that they had been looking for me and that I should join one of the tables at the top. I declined with usual Chinese courtesy by saying that there was no need to stand on ceremony and they did not insist. I came to realize that in fact a seat had been reserved for me there but because of the crowd and the confus- ion, they could not find me to show me to it before dinner was served. But nevertheless, I could not avoid meeting the Consul General and the Ambassador himself.

12.

The dinner was preceded by speeches and entertainment. MAN Leung-sang, in his opening speech, expressed his pleasure in seeing the removal of the gang of four and in learning about the four modernization programmes. He also suggested that the Chinese in Britain should try and promote better relations with the British people and other ethnic groups living in the British Isles and concluded by wishing hina every success in all respects.

13.

The Ambassador spoke for about half an hour in Pekingnese. Jokingly, he spoke first in Cantonese to explain that he could not manage a speech in Cantonese, Hakka or Mandarin and suggested to the audience that they had to settle with Pekingnese. die dwelled in three main themes:

(a) That China was in a tremendously good state. Although this description had been used all the time, it depended very much on the course China was taking at the time. Under the gang of four, there had been a lot of upheaval and grievances inflicted upon the mass. Now that the gang of four had been removed, the state of affairs was truly good. A few examples of grievances suffered by ordinary men and women being righted were given.

(b) The four modernization programmes were estimated to take from now until the year 2,000 to complete, by which time, China will be able to catch up with most advanced countries. With determination and judging from past performance, it was hoped that completion would be sooner than expected. A great deal of money would be needed for the programmes but jokingly he told the audiance not to worry. Their motherland would not be asking them to help financially. The Government had the ways and means to raise the funds required.

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/(c) There

CONFIDENTIAL