TNAG-1241-FCO40-1554-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 100

(iii) Briefing of EXCO on talks.

Main points:

(a) left wing worries about this unfounded. Clear that Governor is

member of British delegation at talks;

(b) briefing of EXCO on such a matter fully within terms of existing constitutional position;

(c) very unfair that only "privileged few" have inside information

about progress of talks.

(see ii(b) above)

(iv) Governor's departure on UK leave

General belief that when in London Governor would meet British

officials to "reassess" Hong Kong's future and map out strategy for

September talks.

(v) Xu Jiatun's (Director, NCNA, Hong Kong Branch) visit to Kowloon Walled City

Reported widely, especially by left-wing press. Main points:

(a) First time in many years that top-level Chinese representative

has visited the city;

(b) visit smacked heavily of politics;

(c) Xu's praise of management of area by self-elected members. This interpreted by some as reference to "Hong Kong people to govern Hong

Kong" proposition;

(d) some support (Communist) for Xu's call to mainland immigrants to work towards stability and prosperity of Hong Kong;

(e) Xu said visit aimed at increasing his "perceptual knowledge" of

Hong Kong.

(vi) Acting Governor's visit to Kowloon City, 18 August

This routine visit to look at environmental problems attracted

attention:

(a) because of Xu Jiatun's earlier visit (see (v) above) to the

Walled City which the Acting Governor did not visit;