TNAG-0847-FCO40-1057-Visits-of-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--to-th-1979 — Page 82

CONFIDENTIAL

COVERING SECRET

This is starting to create practical difficulties, particularly over investment, which will increase as time goes on. The Governor has suggested certain legal action which would deal with this problem provided the Chinese agreed. Proposals will be put to Ministers in due course.

The immigration problem apart, relations between Hong Kong and China are now as good as they have ever been. Sir Murray MacLehose is the first Governor of Hong Kong since the war to pay an official visit to China: he went there in March and saw Deng Xiaoping and other leaders.

I enclose a biographical note on Sir Murray MacLehose together with briefing material on the questions mentioned above.

I am sending copies of this letter and enclosures to John Chilcot (Home Office), Roger Facer (Ministry of Defence) and Martin Vile (Cabinet Office).

Yan

eve,

Stephen

J S Wall

Private Secretary

CONFIDENTIAL

COVERING SECRET