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every respect but title.
The question of official representation thus
ceased to be a topic for ministerial exchanges. However, some remarks
by the Assistant Foreign Minister, Song Zhiguang, on the occasion of
Foreign Minister Huang Hua's visit to London in October 1978, showed that
there was some continuing interest in the subject. Speaking about moves
to further improve cooperation and goodwill between China and Hong Kong,
Song said that his Ministry was considering a proposal that the repre-
sentative of NCNA might carry out some of the duties which the CPG had
previously requested for a diplomatic representative.
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When the subject way raised during the Governor of Hong Kong's visit to China in March 1979, he commented personally to kis hosts that he thought
the present arrangements were good and were working well and that he did
not see any need for such formal representation at present.
Hong Kong-China economic relationship
26 Juring the recent vist to China by the Governor of Hong Kong, Chinese
leaders were particularly frank in their explanation of the economic
importance which they attach to Hong Kong and the role which the territory
can be expected to play in China's current modernisation programme. The
Chinese leaders clearly reiterated their desire for increased trade, tourism
and investment in Hong Kong and Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping formally
requested the Governor to tell investors to "put their hearts at ease"
regarding Chinese intentions in Hong Kong.
87 The economic relationship between China and Hong Kong has a long
history. Among the well-established links are those through which China
provides a large proportion of Hong Kong's food, raw materials and other
essential supplies. Increasingly though, Chinese interest in the economy
of liong Kong has grown more sophisticated, and there is clearly emerging a network of newer economic relationships which enhance Hong Kong's role as a major Chinese entrepôt.
1
88 History of the economic relationship. China had been the mainstay of
Hong Kong's commerce before the War, but the nationalism of the new
Republican régime coupled with social, political and economic disorder within
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