TNAG-1029-FCO40-1279-Visits-by-FCO-officials-to-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 116

Mr Morrice

CONFIDENTIAL

Reference

!

Mr Clift

VISIT TO CHINA AND HONG KONG

1.

HKK 026/9

RECTVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 13 APR 198.

DECK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

f 13.4

I visited China and Hong Kong between 5 March and was accompanied by my wife.

ملا

REGISTRY

Acton Taken

1 April and Cit/4

2. China

24

CODE 18-77

SS 8/78

The purpose of our visit to China was familiarisation. I did of course call on the Embassy and there had brief discussions with the Head of Chancery and others. A meeting had been arranged for me with the MFA to discuss Hong Kong matters. However, in view of the Secretary of State's imminent visit and the fact that there was nothing which I particularly wanted to discuss I asked for the visit to be cancelled. I also suspected that such a visit would not be welcomed by the Political Adviser; this view was subsequently confirmed in Hong Kong. Apart from these discussions we spent 4 days in Peking, 3 days in Sian, 1 day travelling by train between Sian and Shanghai, and 1 day in Shanghai.

3. The visit to China was extremely worthwhile. I have been interested in China for 20 years but this was my first visit because of the restrictions placed on such visits by Hong Kong administrative officers. The impression one has of China is created solely by what one reads and sees and this is controlled entirely by the Chinese. The reality is somewhat different from this 'China Reconstructs' picture. China is a very poor and backward country and the more Hong Kong administrative officers which are aware of this the better. The restrictions have been reduced but should be further relaxed. I am pursuing the question separately.

4. The visit to Hong Kong was intended both to update my knowledge of current attitudes and developments. I tried to keep discussions to a minimum. However, in the end I spent a lot of time meeting senior officials. I saw the Governor, the Chief Secretary, the Financial Secretary, most Unofficials and most of the policy Secretaries as well as Heads of Departments and District and City District Officers.

5. Three things struck me most forcibly as having changed since I was last in Hong Kong over 2 years ago. First, the appalling traffic congestion which has resulted from a 60% increase in the number of private vehicles in Hong Kong since 1978. The second has the frankness with which both expatriates and more particularly Chinese discuss 1997 and the future of Hong Kong and thirdly, the openness with which both Officials and Unofficials now criticise the Governor. The last point I found particularly strange and difficult to get used to. There has, of course, always been criticism of the Governor, but I was struck very forcibly by the frequency and strength of the criticism from very Senior Officials and Unofficials (the criticism came most vehemently from, of all people, Sir Y K Kan, who clearly is now a very lonely man). The principal criticism is that the Governor does not seek advice, does not accept advice which does not accord with his own views and is growing increasingly isolated from the everyday reality of life in Hong Kong. It is not for me to comment on these criticisms but simply to repeat that its strength and openness is Something which struck me and incidentally my wife, very forcibly indeed.

CONFIDENTIAL

16.