TNAG-0943-FCO40-1162-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 104

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Chinese diplomatic representative in Hong Kong.

Historical background, pre-1949

The issue of an official repre-

sentative of China in Hong Kong has a long history. It was first raised

as early as 1869 but was then resolutely opposed by the local mercantile

community and the request was refused. In the autumn of 1940 the subject

was taken up by the Chinese Nationalist Government and, with the agreement

of the Government of Hong Kong, Britain conditionally agreed to the

appointment of such a representative. It is not clear whether the

official title of such a representative was agreed and further progress

was in any case prevented by the outbreak of war with Japan. At the time

of negotiating the re-opening of major British consular posts in China in

1945, the offer to accept the appointment of a Chinese representative in

Hong Kong was renewed. In the event, a Mr T W Kwok [in Mandarin, Guo

Dehua (Kuo Teh-hua)] was nominated by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign

Affairs as "Special Commissioner of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign

Affairs". He was concurrently "Special Delegate of the Ministry of

Foreign Affairs in Guangdong (Kwang tung) and Guangxi (Kwangsi)" and kept

en address at the Office of Special Commissioner for Guangdong and

Guangxi, Hong Kong Bank Building, Hong Kong. Although Mr Kwok duly

arrived in November 1945 he does not appear to have présented any creden-

tials, nor does it seem that any official intimation of his designation

even reached the Hong Kong Government. By the end of 1949, with a new

Chinesę régime firmly in power, Mr Kwok seems to have quietly faded away.

The first CPG request, 1956-1958 The question of Chinese official

representation in Hong Kong was formally raised by the CPG on 25 February

1256 when a Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs informed the British Chargé

/d'Affaires