TNAG-0747-FCO40-951-Visits-of-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-officials-to-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 182

CONFIDENTIAL

ANNEX D : HONG KONG

Some of what I saw in Hong Kong was not of direct relevance to the work of FED and some other points are already being pursued. Two points may be worth recording:

1.

a.

Dr Wilson thought that if the Chinese were serious in their reported interest in charter flights to Canton, it would probably be possible to get around most of the difficulties which had been foreseen. The only real problem would arise if the Chinese insisted on reciprocal runs. would be grateful if we would look at the papers again.

He

b. I visited Mr Yi in the Press Research Unit. His outfit certainly seemed rather remote and he would clearly welcome some feed-back and any insight into the product of other parts of the Diplomatic Service China watching machinery. if it were possible for him to see articles etc. He told me how much he valued his independence by contrast with the Americans who felt that they were made to conform to one centralised interpretation of what was going on in China.

CONFIDENTIAL