RESTRICTED
The Chinese referred back to that conversation in November 1964 when Colonel Cantlie was again visiting China. On that occasion Col. Cantlie told the Foreign Office that Wu Maosun, Secretary General of the People's Institute of Foreign Affairs (PIFA), had spoken in the following terms: "Mr Wu had saved what was perhaps his most interesting point for the closing moments of the interview. He had referred to some remarks about Hong Kong made by Chou En-lai to Col. Cantlie on his last visit and had gone on to say that the Chinese liked to see the British there; they did not like changes in personalities or to see new people coming to power". (FO minute of 16 December 1964). I attach copies of these papers. They were originally classified SECRET and CONFIDENTIAL but I am assuming that they were released under the 30 year rule.
4. It is interesting that these remarks of Zhou's should have entered into the Chinese canon on Hong Kong in this way. They are not dissimilar from the line he is alleged to have taken with the Governor in 1955. There are also, as always, uncanny echoes of today's Chinese concern over democratisation (base for subversion, international US-led conspiracy etc). I will minute again when
I have seen the other papers.
RO
RF Wye
RESTRICTED
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.