TNAG-1037-FCO40-1287-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 68

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CONFIDENTIAL

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Ji Pengfei re-stated the case for an official representative,

either of Guangdong Province or of the MFA, and cited Mr Kwok's

appointment as a precendent. He also offered reciprocal

representation for the Hong Kong Government in Canton. The

Secretary of State replied that in accordance with an Aide

Memoire which stated inter alia: 'the time is not ripe for a

change in the pattern of your representation in Hong Kong. I

would therefore ask you not to press your proposal1

8.

The Chinese continued to raise the matter:

Q

a) Wang Dong, Head of West European Department, MFA, with

Sir John Addis (November 1973);

b) Deng Xiaoping with Mr Heath (May 1974);

c) Song Zhi guang, Chinese Ambassador in London, with

Mr Youde (June 1974);

d) Qiao Guanhua, then Foreign Minister, with the Secretary

of State (May 1976).

The Governor's Visit, 1979

9.

In March 1979 when Sir Murray MacLehose visited Peking,

Foreign Minister Huang Hua raised the representation issue with

the Governor, citing the KMT precedent, and said they would

probably wish to return to it during the Secretary of State's

visit to Peking. The Governor said that he understood means

had been found to solve most of the practical difficulties the

Chinese authorities had encountered resulting from the absence

of official representation, and was confident that any remaining

problems could be solved. He said he believed the time would

come when it would be appropriate for the Chinese to appoint

a representative, but to do so at present might affect

confidence in Hong Kong.

/Unofficial

CONFIDENTIAL