CONFIDENTIAL
Foreign Minister in October 1978. During his visit to London, Huang Hua said
to the Prime Minister on 11 October that the question of Hong Kong "should be
settled in due course through negotiations".
11.
From 14-21 December, the Minister of Foreign Trade Li Qiang (Li Ch'iang)
paid an unprecedented visit to Hong Kong. In his many meetings (which included
an official call on the Governor), Li stressed the importance of the role Hong
Kong could play in China's current modernisation programme. As a centre of
communication, an entrepot and a source of expertise on business and industry,
the prosperity and well-being of Hong Kong was an important factor in Chinese
attitudes towards Hong Kong.
12.
In February, Li Qiang extended an invitation addressed to the "Governor of
Hong Kong" to visit Feking in the spring of 1979 and thanked him for the
hospitality extended during his own visit to Hong Kong in December. In such an
explicit recognition of the position of the Governor lies some indication of the
keen readiness of the present Chinese Government to ensure close and friendly
relations with Hong Kong.
CONFIDENTIAL
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