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DSR 11C
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shows, there was for a short time such an official after
the Second World War. What would matter for us would be
the psychological and political impact on confidence in
Hong Kong. This would in turn depend partly on the funcțion
of the representative.
20. If the representative simply took up the present liaison
duties of the senior New China News Agency official, which
-
amount in practice to a diplomatic role, it would be
relatively easy to explain the change as the natural result
:
of improved Sino-UK relations and as ending the anomaly
of the NCNA role. From our point of view there would be
advantage in the official depending from the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs as was the case under the Nationalist
Government in the late 1940s.
Judging by their attitude
over the title of the proposed visa office, the Chinese
Government would take a similar view and would not favour
the idea of a representative of the Guangdong Provincial
Government.
However, even the straight formalisation of
Chinese Government representation in Hong Kong would be
regarded as of considerable significance by public opinion
in the Territory. Taken on its own, it could be seen as a
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