TNAG-2166-FCO40-3101-Diplomatic-representation-of-China-in-Hong-Kong-New-China-Ne-1990 — Page 3

CONFIDENTIAL

TOP COPY Q DIST?

HKC400

103604

MDHIAN 9927

TELNO 82

CONFIDENTIAL

FM PEKING

TO DESKBY 19020OZ HONG KONG

OF 190107Z NOVEMBER 90

RECEN

Y

21 NOV 1990

19/11

AND TO DESKBY 19090OZ F C o

INDEX

20

HONG KONG TELNO 3346, MY TELNO 81, FCO TELNO 2154 TO HONG KONG AND TELECONS PIGOTT/DEPUTY POLITICAL ADVISER OF 17 NOVEMBER :

NCNA'S STATUS.

1. CHENG RUOYU, FIRST SECRETARY, HKMAO, MFA TELEPHONED FIRST SECRETARY AT 1850 HRS LOCAL ON 17 NOVEMBER.

2. READING FROM A PREPARED NOTE, CHENG SAID :

''ON 14 NOVEMBER THE DEPUTY POLITICAL ADVISER OF THE HKG INFORMED NCNA, HONG KONG BRANCH, THAT IT INTENDED TO MAKE A PUBLIC STATEMENT ABOUT THE STATUS OF NCNA HONG KONG BRANCH AS FOLLOWS : **HKG WILL TAKE FULL ACCOUNT OF THE REPRESENTATIVE AND OFFICIAL

CHARACTER OF THE NCNA HONG KONG BRANCH IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, STAFF AND THE AGENCY ITSELF. DEPITE THAT, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF HONG KONG, THE AGENCY IS NOT A CONSULATE AND ITS STAFF ENJOY NEITHER DIPLOMATIC NOR CONSULAR STATUS''. NCNA HONG KONG BRANCH ON TWO OCCASIONS HAS MADE CLEAR OUR POSITION ON THIS MATTER TO THE DEPUTY POLITICAL ADVISER AND ALSO ASKED THE BRITISH HONG KONG SIDE NOT TO MAKE IT PUBLIC PRIOR TO ANY OFFICIAL REPLY

FROM THE NCNA HONG KONG BRANCH. IF THE HKG MUST MAKE THE STATEMENT ON MONDAY 19 NOVEMBER, OUT OF VARIOUS CONSIDERATIONS WE REQUEST THE HKG TO USE ONLY THE FIRST HALF OF THE STATEMENT, I.E. FROM THE BEGINNING OF THAT STATEMENT UNTIL ''THE AGENCY IS NOT A CONSULATE'', AND TO DELETE THE LATTER PART WHICH READS ''AND ITS STAFF ENJOY NEITHER DIPLOMATIC NOR CONSULAR STATUS''. PLEASE REPORT TO LONDON AND INFORM THE HKG AS SOON AS POSSIBLE OF OUR STAND. WE HOPE OUR POSITION ON THE MATTER CAN BE DULY RESPECTED''

3. IN RESPONSE, PIGOTT SAID THAT HE UNDERSTOOD THAT NCNA HAD DISCUSSED THIS MATTER WITH THE PA'S OFFICE. HKG HAD RECEIVED A ROUTINE QUESTION FROM THE HONG KONG MEDIA ABOUT NCNA'S STATUS IN THE TERRITORY. IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT HKG SHOULD BE ABLE TO RESPOND REASONABLY QUICKLY : THEY WISHED TO DO SO IN STRICTLY FACTUAL TERMS. HKG RECOGNISED NCNA'S UNIQUE POSITION IN HONG

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