TNAG-0848-FCO40-1058-Future-of-Hong-Kong-New-Territories-leases-1979 — Page 37

SECRET

The

The

representative in Hong Kong might be titled either a Representative of.

-Guangdong or a Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Chinese were also willing to consider reciprocal representation of the

Hong Kong authorities in Guangzhou (Canton). The status of Hong Kong,

said Ji, was not in question. That was a matter for the future.

Chinese regarded the appointment of an official representative in Hong

Kong as an aspect of the development of their relations between Britain

and China. Ji explained that Zhou Enlai had raised the matter because

of the Nationalist Government's appointment of a Special Commissioner

for Guangdong and Guangxi to Hong Kong. He could not see why the CPG

could not send a Commissioner, especially now that relations were so good,

if the Nationalists had been able to send one. The functions of any

representative could be carefully defined so that he knew what he should

do and what not. Ji was certain that the question would be raised again but repeated that the Chinese had no intention of trying to establish a

separate régime in Hong Kong. The Secretary of State replied in accord-

ance with an Aide Mémoire which he handed to Ji and which stated inter

alia "the time is not ripe for a change in the pattern of your repre-

sentation in Hong Kong. I would therefore ask you not to press your

'proposal."

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1

12. Chinese references to the question since June 1973

Nevertheless,

it is clear that the Chinese did not consider the matter closed.

8 November 1973, Wang Dong (Wang Tung) Director of Western European

Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, raised the subject in a

conversation with Sir John'Addis.

On

Wang pressed the Chinese case on the

grounds that the appointment of a representative in Hong Kong would facili

tate liaison over matters ranging from frontier control to a Sino-British