TNAG-0932-FCO40-1151-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-China-1980 — Page 84

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$ 28

態

TRE DI S M

Aw.3/5

CONFIDENTIAL

Sel minute 5p7/7

2) Ms fores (F.E. Section

Research Dept.)

Hove

you seen any

collatert for X Aut

Mr.

12A

GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT

LOWER ALBERT ROAD

HONG KONG

20 March, 1980

3) enters p..

Williamson J13.5.

AMER OUR REF.:

1) McKess

W YOUR REF.

Mi Rikouse 3/5. Morice or

Jrikian

REAR

13.5

RJT McLaren Esq

Far Eastern Department

F CO

Sony

I've sat on this

13|

"EAST AND WEST" ARTICLE ON CHINESE POLICY TOWARDS HONG KONG

I

I am enclosing a copy of the translation of an article which appeared in the February issue of a local magazine, East and West (Dong-xi-fang), about Deng Xiaoping and Chinese policy towards Hong Kong and Macau. "East and West" is a magazine slightly to the right of

It goes in for centre which probably has some KMT links. articles giving an "inside" account of events in China. am afraid I have no means of telling how accurate its inside stories normally are. It is not a particularly significant magazine and not on my normal reading list, The interesting part of the article is contained in pages 8 onwards where it is alleged that a special group was set Xup in Peking last December to consider policy towards Hong Kong and Macau and where remarks are attributed to Deng speaking at a meeting of that group in January.

2.

The existence of such a "think tank" would not be surprising. Indeed it would be odd if such a group did not exist although, without collateral, I would be reluctant to

As for Deng's accept that the membership is as stated. alleged remarks in January, much of them has a plausible air. Had such a meeting taken place, however, and had Deng's remarks about it been well enough known to be picked up by this magazine, I would have expected us to pick up some

So far there has been nothing. reflections of them elsewhere. Until there is, the article merely needs to be noted as a curiosity which may, or may not, have a foundation in truth.

(D C Wilson)

CC RD Clift Esq (HKGD)

TJ B George Esq (Peking)

CONFIDENTIAL