TNAG-0907-FCO40-1117-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 84

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CONFIDENTIAL

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shared my surprise that it had been thought necessary to cite emigration to Hong Kong as a point in China's favour.

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I do not think we need take this too seriously. I doubt if the Chinese will conclude that they cannot control emigration to Hong Kong for fear of how the United States might react . Significantly, the local Communist paper, Da Gong Bao, when publishing an almost full text of Christopher's speech, omitted the point about emigration to Hong Kong. Nevertheless, I think it is as well to sound a warning note about the possible dangers to us of the sort of arguments Warren Christopher was using in order to convince Congress. Perhaps John Weston could reinforce this point, in a low-key way, in Washington.

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(D C Wilson)

RJT McLaren Esq Far Eastern Department

M R Melhuish Esq

North America Department

PJ Weston Esq WASHINGTON

T JB George Esq PEKING

CONFIDENTIAL