TNAG-0744-FCO40-948-Relations-between-China-and-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 39

SECRET

CRS 340

SECRET

FM PEKING 197729Z DEC 78

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 939 OF 19 DEC

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

Hick.oad

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 5

1 DEC 1978

INTAK

No

OFFICE

19/12

RCO.

Acton laten

HONG KONG TELNO 1441: INVITATION TO VISIT PEKING. See (226

1.

I HAVE NOW RECEIVED THE GOVERNOR'S LETTER OF 15 DECEMBER

TO MCLAREN.

2201

2. I AGREE THAT A VISIT BY THE GOVERNOR TO PEKING WOULD BE BOUND TO PROVOKE SPECULATION, PARTICULARLY IN HONG KONG, AND THAT TOO MUCH MIGHT BE READ INTO IT. IT IS ALSO VERY POSSIBLE, THOUGH NOT INEVITABLE, THAT THE CHINESE MAY RAISE ISSUES REL- ATING TO THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.

3. ON THE OTHER HAND THIS IS CLEARLY AN OFFICIAL INVITATION FROM THE TOP, WHICH IT WOULD BE UNWISE TO TURN DOWN. IT REF- LECTS THE EXCELLENT STATE OF SINO/BRITISH AND SINO/HONG KONG RELATIONS AND AT THE LEAST SHOULD HAVE A HELPFUL EFFECT IN PROMOTING THOSE RELATIONS. IT IS FAIRLY CLEAR THAT THE GOV-

ERNOR WOULD SEE SENIOR LEADERS. IF WE OURSELVES WISH TO RAISE

LARGER ISSUES EG NEW TERRITORIES LEASES, THIS WOULD BE A GOOD

OCCASION.

4. THIS COULD IN FACT BE A FAVOURABLE MOMENT FOR QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG TO COME UP, WITH TENG IN POWER, HAVING JUST PULLED OFF NORMALISATION AND MADE ENCOURAGING REMARKS TO THE AMERICANS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF

TAIWAN.

5. THE VISIT WOULD THEREFORE HAVE TO BE VERY WELL PREPARED

AND WE SHOULD NEED TO HAVE OUR MINDS CLEAR ON THE SUBJECT OF

NEW TERRITORIES LEASES AND ON THE LARGER ISSUE.

6. WE SHOULD ALSO NEED TO CONSIDER TIMING CAREFULLY, BOTH IN

THE CONTEXT OF CLEARING OUR MINDS AND IN THE CONTEXT OF OTHER PROSPECTIVE VISITORS TO PEKING. AT THIS STAGE I SHOULD FAVOUR THE SPRING IE APRIL/MAY. IN JUNE WE EXPECT A VERY LARGE BUS-

INESS EXHIBITION WHICH WOULD BE OPENED BY THE DUKE OF KENT.

SECRET

/WE