5.
B
W158
He
13.
Dr Owen said there were also a number of agreements under negotiation between Britain and China. We would like a Science and Technology Agreement, and we hoped that negotiations on our draft text could proceed rapidly. Mr Huang replied that the State Commission for Science and Technology was studying the text. hoped that signature could take place soon. There was no fundamental difficulty. Lord Goronwy-Roberts added that the UK were already doing a good deal to implement the ideas which would be covered by an agreement. A Cultural Attaché would join the British Embassy before the end of the year: and the UK was working on the problem of integrating Chinese students into British institutions. Dr Owen said that remarkable progress had been made on this since Mrs Williams' visit to China. Mr Huang observed that when she came it was the Chinese side which was pushing; now it was the British.
14.
Did
Dr Owen said that British Airways, the UK state airline, was keen that an agreement should be reached on air services. Mr Huang see any problem in this? Mr Huang said that he had discussed this with Mr Dell during the latter's visit to Peking in August. The main problem was to follow the Japanese formula in order to reach agreement. He believed that the UK would be able to find a solution. Dr Owen said that since this had been discussed with Mr Dell he would not pursue the matter further on this occasion. Lord Goronwy-Roberts said that the agreement had been initialled in 1973. The UK thought that it could be signed now but the appropriate officials should talk to each other.
15.
Dr Owen said that Mr Huang had discussed Hong Kong with the Frime Minister. Both sides were satisfied with the present situation and we understood one another. But there was one specific problem he would like to raise, namely immigration. The large numbers entering Hong Kong from China placed a heavy strain on housing and social services in Hong Kong. The authorities were having to run hard to stand still. Lord Goronwy-Roberts said that 42,000 had crossed the border up to September 1978 compared with 26,000 for the whole of 1977. There was a danger of going backwards.
Mr Huang said that in the past there was a tradition of free movement between Hong Kong and the interior of China. The Chinese did not see any need for a procedure to cover movement between the two places. present China did pay attention to the numbers entering Hong Kong: there were certain restrictions on these numbers, and China would continue to pay attention to the problem. Lord Goronwy-Roberts thanked Mr Huang for this. He said that in the past the Chinese authorities had been very helpful and he was grateful for this indication of their intention to continue to be so.
16.
At
But we
Dr Owen said there were no other major problems. did have some outstanding claims. Mr Huang owed him 20 consulates. He might be willing to swap some of these in exchange for Mr Cradock's new office accommodation!
5.
/17.
:
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.