TNAG-0943-FCO40-1162-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 255

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64. The Director and his staff are thus able through the

ordinating apparatus of NCNA, and the interlocking committees of

the local Party structure, comprehensively to control all activities

of CPG units in Hong Kong. The control appears to be tight and

pervasive, and is developed sufficiently to allow the CPG to

co-ordinate their activities in Hong Kong; to provide an extensive

reporting capability and to make CPG views known locally.

"

65.

Hong Kong Government contacts with NCNA. In view of China's

claims to Hong Kong and in order to preserve public confidence in

Britain's responsibility for the colony, successive Governors

since 1949 took care to avoid direct or official contact with the

hierarchy of the CCP in Hong Kong, including its representatives at

NCNA. However, as Sino-British relations improved in the 1970s,

especially once ambassadors had been exchanged, the Governor of

Hong Kong realised the opportunity for establishing contact with

CPG representatives in Hong Kong and promoting the territory's

relations with China. At the end of 1972 the Governor had his

first conversations with Liang Weilin (then head of NCNA and the

senior CPG official in Hong Kong) and photographs appeared in the

press of their talking and shaking hands. The relationship has

developed gradually and has contributed to the favourable climate.

of relations that has prevailed since the present Chinese regime.

took office in late 1976. In 1978 the Governor was for the first

time able to accept an invitation extended by the present Director,

of NCNA, Wang Kuang, to attend the Chinese National Day reception

on 30 September. This step has conferred a degree of official

recognition on NCNA's representational role.

:

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166.

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