TNAG-1168-FCO40-1448-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 17

CONFIDENTIAL

British Embassy PEKING

134A

N J Cox Esq FED

FCO

tur figu. See last page

fear Nigel

303

૯૯

19 March 1982

(with para 12 of attack".) HKCD (with entire attack".) the Cruickshan

ник окол

OTH, DOT.

* si

+ 1 parbly

VISIT TO CHINA BY BRITISH PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION

See (178)

(178)

1. I am writing to report that the British Parliamentary Delegation, under the leadership of Mr Edward Du Cann, duly arrived in Peking on 11 March, and left on 15 March for Xian. I attach a copy of their programme in China, which was produced by the NPC at the airport on 11 March just as the British Airways flight was landing.

2. I think it can be said that the visit to Peking went well. Certainly the Chinese produced two high level leaders in honour of the visitors: Peng Chong as their host (he also honoured them by going to the return banquet in the Fang Shan restaurant on 14 March) and Vice Premier Yao Yilin.

3. The exchanges with Peng Chong were limited to flowery courtesies, of which those produced by the leaders of the British delegation were no less elaborate than Peng Chong's. Matters of substance did come up in the delegation's meeting with Yao Yilin on 13 March, about which the Chinese had told us in advance that the delegation would be very welcome to ask questions. I attach a copy of a summary record of that meeting.

4.

The visiting MPs seemed in general quite pleased with the arrangements the Chinese had made for them here, with our advice. The only surprises were that they made it clear that they wanted to meet British business representatives -in Peking, as well as in Shanghai, so a meeting between the two groups was arranged after the call on Yao Yilin at 5pm on 13 March. Also, late on Saturday evening, the delegation (whose visit had not passed unnoticed by Xinhua) felt that its importance justified more publicity. Accordingly, Philip Watson was telephoned at 10.20 pm on Saturday night, with the request that he organise a press conference for the

As far as we delegation on Monday morning at the Embassy.

could tell, nothing noteworthy was said, except for Mr Du Cann's remark about Hong Kong (our telno 164 of 17 March refers).

niches w

RED have seen:

إلك لحسم هم

Los como find it! See Tho,

180 / 5.

ли

to pursues

k

AK COD for repeat

А

see (178

CONFIDENTIAL

We must then ash for it D2392