TNAG-2044-FCO40-2914-Visits-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 4

From

CONFIDENTIAL B

Political Adviser

MEMO

Secretary for Constitutional Affairs To (Attn. Ms Grace Lui)

Ref.

in

PA CR 1/4/5701/86

810 2428

Tel. No.

27 November 1990

Date

CAB A 11/20

Your Ref.

..in

27 November 1990

dated

1.

Visit to Hong Kong by a group of Chinese Officials from the HKMAO

When I saw Mr Chen Zuo'er's delegation on 26 November,

I spoke to the note which you already have.

2.

I sensed that the main Chinese interest during the meeting was to ascertain the degree to which the Political Adviser's Office represented HMG in the HKG; and the procedures for appointment of the Political Adviser.

3.

I emphasised in my presentation, and in answer to subsequent questions, that the Political Adviser was fully part of the Hong Kong Government and reported to the Chief Secretary and the Governor and not directly to the FCO. Our office was not an implant of HMG in the HKG, giving orders to the latter. Nor was it responsible for HMG/HKG relations. The Political Adviser himself ranked as a Secretary in the Hong Kong Government. The delegation said that they had the impression that the Political Adviser was more important than other Secretaries and co-ordinated their work. I emphasised that this was not true. I ranked as an ordinary Secretary and my responsibilities were limited to China relations and non-economic external relations.

4.

I was asked how the Political Adviser was appointed. I said that he was appointed by the Governor as part of the HKG.

Obviously the Governor liaiṣed closely with the FCO on the appointment, since the Political Adviser came from the FCO. This answer seemed to be slightly disappointing to the delegation. They were more cheerful when I told them that, while both Assistant Political Adviser slots would soon be localised, I expected there to be no change in the practice of the Political Adviser and his Deputy coming from the FCO.

5.

I emphasised the importance of more visits between China and Hong Kong. Chen agreed. He expressed particular satisfaction that the Governor had gone out of his way to see (or asked to see) a number of senior Chinese who have recently passed through Hong Kong.

Lo.c. {horman

(W G Ehrman) Political Adviser

G.F. 73C

ནབས། མ ར ༥ བང བང བཤ འ་འ--༥བརཱས་

CONFIDENTIAL #

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