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United Kingdom Mission 37-39 rue de Vermont 1211 Geneva 20
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RECOTT
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Assistant Political Adviser
I C Orr Esq
HONG KONG
Government Secretariat
No
Your reference i
PA
93.5 H
Our reference
UN 618/3
Date
1 May 1979
VISIT OF UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES TO CHINA
588
Mr
1. Please refer to my letter of 27 April. When the Ambassador called on Mr Hartling this morning to discuss Hong Kong's interests (which is being reported separately) he took the opportunity of enquiring how the High Commissioner saw his visit to Peking. Hartling explained that he had been invited to China on a private visit as a former Danish Prime Minister. This would be the first contact that China has ever had with UNHCR and Hartling thought it right to take this opportunity of drawing China closer to them. China had never taken up its seat on the Executive Committee nor made any contributions to the UNHCR programmes. Hartling had asked to see his "old friend, Teng Hsiao-ping" and would naturally be raising refugee matters with him.
2. During the conversation the Ambassador alluded to the possibility of the High Commissioner visiting Hong Kong thereby providing him with the opportunity of discussing matters further with the Governor. Mr Hartling said that he would very much like to visit Hong Kong on some future occasion, but thought that it would not be possible this time.
cc: P Morgan Esq UND FCO
HKGD, FCO
SEAD, FCO
British Embassy, PEKING
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DR Snoxell
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