TNAG-0943-FCO40-1162-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 217

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so good, if the Nationalists had been able to send one. The functions

of any representative could be carefully defined so that he knew what

he should do and what not. Ji was certain that the question would be

raised again but repeated that the Chinese had no intention of trying

to establish a separate régime in Hong Kong. The Secretary of State

replied in accordance with an Aide Mémoire which he handed to Ji and

which stated inter alia: "the time is not ripe for a change in the

pattern of your representation in Hong Kong. I would therefore ask you

not to press your proposal".

Chinese references to the question since June 1973

Nevertheless,

it is clear that the Chinese did not consider the matter closed. On

8* November 1973, Wang Dong (Wang Tung) Director of Western European

Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, raised the subject in a

conversation with Sir John Addis. Wang pressed the Chinese case on the

grounds that the appointment of a representative in Hong Kong would

facilitate liaison over matters ranging from frontier control to a Sino-

British air services agreement and communications generally. He reitera-

ted the unacceptability of a Chinese Consulate-General in Hong Kong.

In 1974 during a private visit to China by former Prime Minister

Mr Edward Heath, Vice-Premier Deng Xiaoping (Teng Hsiao-p'ing) again

raised the subject during talks on 27 May. Deng assured Mr Heath that

the Chinese Government's motives in this issue were not at all underhand

and that they would never seek to exploit the position of an official

representative to attain other ends. The question of Chinese representa-

tion in Hong Kong could be further discussed later, said Deng.

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