TNAG-1037-FCO40-1287-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 132

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Aulica,D

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BACKGROUND ON CHINESE REQUESTS FOR OFFICIAL REPRESENTATION IN HONG KONG

1. The Government of the PRC have raised the question of

official representation in Hong Kong on numerous occasions,

the first in 1955, but most vigorously during the early and mid-1970's. At no point have they defined the precise status

and function of their proposed representative, but they have offered assurances that no executive functions would be sought. Deng Xiaoping told Mr Edward Heath in 1974 that China would never seek to exploit the position of an official represent-

ative to attain other ends.

2. The titles favoured by the Chinese for such a post have been Commissioner, or Representative of the Ministry of Foreign

Affairs or of Guangdong Province. They have rejected the

}

possible title of Consul-General, which would imply an admission that Hong Kong is foreign territory.

Precedents

3. The issue of official Chinese representation in Hong Kong was first raised as early as 1869, but was rejected by the Hong Kong authorities. It was taken by up the Kuomintang (KMT) Government in 1940 and agreement was reached in principle on the appointment of a representative. Action then was prevented by the war with Japan, but the subject was revived in 1945, when it was suggested to the Chinese that they might wish to

Instead

appoint a Consul-General.// the KMT Government appointed a

as 'Special Commissioner for Guangdong and

Mr T W Kwok

Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)!

Guangxi,

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