TNAG-1169-FCO40-1449-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 115

CODE 18 77

Mr Cox

PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION TO CHINA

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"Reference

HKR 040/1

GREAT AC.

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30MA

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156

Po 303

1. Mr Ray Whitney MP telephoned this morningprincipally to set up a meeting on which I have minuted separately. He referred briefly to the recent Parliamentary visit to China. He said that a number of his colleagues had returned very starry-eyed about China which he was inclined to deplore. He said in answer to a question that he thought Mr Du Cann would probably want to the LPS to report on the visit. He himself would probably be writing an article and would be talking at the Chatham House China Lunch Group on 22 April.

2. He enquired whether we had yet had a report from the Ambassador (we have not). He mentioned that they had had a pretty turgid meeting with Yao Yilin, described in NCNA as a 'lively' one and another with Peng Chong.

3. But he was rather worried about the press conference they had held in Hong Kong where rather too much had been said from the stage about 1997. The Hong Kong press had variously reported that discussions in China had amounted to negotiations. I told Mr Whitney that we were used to the excitability of the Hong Kong press on this issue and I was sure that no harm would be done. But I should welcome a sight of any Hong Kong newspaper report on this press conference.

26 March 1982

cc:

Mr Williamson

HKGD

9

tw The font

29/3

H L1 Davies

See 162 162

We have not yet seen

any Homy.

Kong reports of the press conference but du Dr Cann's views are recorded

in yerverdays Sunday Telegraph.

can expect luni to raise his

Jude a3

24.3