fco-21-1136-representation-of-china-in-hong-kong — Page 1

National Archives 英國國家檔案館 All

FILE

1 3/30/1

PART.

DO NOT RETAIN FILES AND PAPERS UNNECESSARILY RETURN THEM TO REGISTRY FOR
BU, OR SA,

ཀ་

YEAR TAU TU NOM

STAMP

SEQ

L

p

(N.B. The grody of the prolix mat be the same as that of the highest
graded Se costrad mahantar necessary.)

UPG

SECRET

DEPT.

H.M. DIPLOMATIC SERVICE

Dr POST

FAR

FILE NOFEH 3/301/1

Contents checked

for transfer to

[3gd.)..

Date

D.LO.

EASTERN

(Part A.)

18

TITLE: REPRESENTATION OF CHINA IN HONG KONG

REFER TO

REFER TO

<p>&nbsp;<span></span></p><!--more--><p></p>

NAME

TO

DATE

(and dept when necessary)

SEE:

NAME (and dapt, when necessary)

TO

DATE

SEE:

NAME (and dept, when necessary)

TO

DATE

SEE:

Pco 21/1136

ес 427

(N.B. The grading of the sachet me be the same at that of the highest
graded mad pere. Ihe approposata supgrading alıp must be afğired
shonover necessary.)

SECRET

CLOSED UNTIL

2004

Registry Address

Room No. ...271..

King Charles Street.

K.

YEAR STAMP

1973

REFER TO

PRIORITY

CONFIDENTIAL

TOP CL.

Jue

CYPHER/CAT A

GPS 80

FM HONG KONG 1609252

CONFIDENTIAL

1973

TO PRIORITY FCO TELNO 539 OF 16 MAY/INFO PEKING.

YOUR TELEGRAM 478: CHINESE REPRESENTATION IN HONG KONG.

I SUGGEST THAT THE TELEGRAM TO SINCLAIR BE AMENDED BY THE DELETION

OF THE PHRASE QUOTE TAKING INTO ACCOUNT NOT ONLY FACTORS OF PARTICU-

LAR RELEVANCE TO HONG KONG, BUT ALSO THOSE OF MORE GENERAL IMPORTANCE
AFFECTING SINO/BRITISH RELATIONS IN THEIR FULLEST SENSE UNQUOTE.

2. THE INCLUSION OF THE ABOVE PHRASE COULD ENCOURAGE FEARS ABOUT

THE ASPECT THAT MOST ALARMS PEOPLE HERE. THIS IS THAT THE FUTURE OF

HONG KONG MIGHT BE SACRIFICED TO SERVE U.K. IMMEDIATE COMMERCIAL

INTERESTS. IF YOU AGREE WITH ITS DELETION, WE WILL PASS AMENDED TELEGRAM
TO SINCLAIR.

MACLEHOSE

FILES

FED

HKIOD

NEWS D

P/S MR ROYLE MR WILFORD SIR E NORRIS SIR D WATSON

1

CONFIDENTIAL

Reply sent

Gå 1815

PRIORITY CYPHER/CAT A

GPS 230

RESTRICTED

(FE)

M

1

FM F.C.0.

RESTRICTED

151035Z

TU PRIORITY GOVERLOR HONG KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 478 OF 15 MAY 1973

INFO PEKING.

P

MY TELEGRAM NUMBER 417: CHINESE REPRESENTATION IN HONG KONG.

1.

KEVIN SINCLAIR HAS SENT ANOTHER TELEGRAM TO MR. ROYLE, AS

FOLLOWS:-

''MANY THANKS YOUR REPLY ON CHINESE LIAISON OFFICE. WOULD GREATLY

APPRECIATE FULL STATEMENT FROM YOU AFTER REPEAT AFTER THE REPLY

TO BE GIVEN IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS ON MAY 9. PLEASE CABLE

STATEMENT AFTER GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN REPLIES TO LORD BROCKWAY'S

QUESTION OF MAY 9.

REGARDS SINCLAIR".

2.

IF YOU AGREE WITH THE WORDING, PLEASE PASS THE FOLLOWING REPLY

TO SINCLAIR FROM MR. ROYLE:~

ÁS LADY TWEEDSMUIR TOLD THE HOUSE OF LORDS ON 9 MAY THE CHINESE

GOVERNMENT HAS PROPOSED THAT A REPRESENTATIVE OF THEIR MINISTRY OF
FOREIGN AFFAIRS SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED IN HONG KONG. THIS IS

A PROPOSITION WHICH WAS FIRST RAISED IN 1956, REJECTED BY H.M.G. IN 1958
AND WAS RAISED AGAIN BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT FOLLOWING ESTABLISHMENT
OF RELATIONS AT THE LEVEL OF AMBASSADOR LAST YEAR. AS A RESIDENT OF HONG
KONG YOU WILL KNOW YOURSELF THAT THE PROPOSAL WOULD GIVE RISE TO CERTAIN
PROBLEMS AND FOR THIS REASON IT IS MOST IMPORTANT THAT IT SHOULD BE
CAREFULLY AND COMPREHENSIVELY STUDIED, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT NOT ONLY
FACTORS OF PARTICULAR RELEVANCE TO HONG KONG, BUT ALSO THOSE OF MORE
GENERAL IMPORTANCE

AFFECTING SINO/BRITISH RELATIONS IN THEIR FULLEST SENSE.('OUR STUDY IS
NOT YET COMPLETED, AND IT WOULD BE WRONG FOR ME TO FORECAST ITS LIKELY
OUTCOME, I AM SURE YOU WILL UNDERSTAND,

KINDEST REGARDS,

ANTHONY ROYLE'.

DOUGLAS-HOME

FILES

FED

HKIOD

NEWS D

FS/MR ROYLE

MR VILFORD SIR E NORRIS SIR D WATSON

RESTRICTED

·

CONFIDENTIAL

Mingyenes

Mr Evans

ni Wilford

Enter

CHINESE OFFICIAL REPRESENTATION IN HONG KONG

1.

B

Lu

"ADA

5.

Mr Kevin Sinclair, the Daily Express correspondent in Hong Kong, has
sent a further telegram to Mr Royle, to follow up his earlier exchange.
Mr Sinclair was the author of the front page article in the South China
Morning Post of 26 April reported in Hong Kong telegram no. 445.

2. Mr Guest has minuted that in replying to Mr Sinclair's request, Mr
Royle naturally feels he cannot go any further than Lady Tweedsmuir in
her reply to Lord Brockway's Parliamentary Question on 9 May.

3. I submit a self-explanatory draft telegram. HKIOD and News Department
concur.

10 May 1973

M. Wilford M. Evans.

Since

so little

The exchanges

Thank

H L1 Davies

Far Eastern Department

Rm. Evans

you.

10 may, 1973.

Imombant a revised vertr

agreed with M: Evans. It doesn't

more

Hause of and a bit mone

Hi Royle

but it is longer

R

was said in

Say

in the

pernai

a

hords

O

May

would

Litva

ta

in

Kun

reply

railer

advice please

kabre.

dekil

Ink Coat

your

14

CONFIDENTIAL

sec 13

M5

-

FEL

%

19]*

POST

OFFICE

INTERNATIONAL TELEGRAPH SERVICES

To send

DIRECTO

To send Telegrams

CONSULT TELEPHONE

DIRECTORY OR TELEX

DIALLING

CARD

ICE

·RAPH SERVICES

!

NNNN

26

!

-

HKIOD - Jor

MAY

pse.

adice

Thit? Gomest

PS. M. Royle wathe

Cammot

be

them hady

naturally

4/5

jeeks

go any further

१०

Посебений нель

ZCZC CLH499 LPG297X HLP069X LPG259X GHC433 HFB014 PA8831 Westwarclay

GBLH CO HXHK 057

HONGKONG 57 3 1155

(9 May)

13 951

415.

ANTHONY ROYLE HOUSE OF COMMONS

LONDON

MANY THANKS YOUR REPLY ON CHINESE LIASON OFFICE STOP WOULD

GREATLY APPRECIATE FULL STATEMENT FROM YOU AFTER REPEAT

AFTER THE REPLY

TO BE GIVEN IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS ON MAY 9 STOP PLEASE CABLE

STATEMENT AFTER GOVERNMENT SPOKEMEN REPLIES TO LORD

BROCKWAY ON MAY 9 STOP REGARDS

SINCLAIR PORTSCRIPT HONGKONG

COL

११

POST

OFFICE

IONAL TELEGRAPH SERVICES

To send Telegrams DIRECTORY OR TELEX DIALLING

CONSULT TELEPHONE

CARD

POST

INTERNATIONAL TELEGRAPH SERVICE OFFICE

150A

PRIORITY

CYPILER/CAT A

F F C 0 3010307

CONFIDENTIAL

AHFIDENTIAL

FEH1 3/9/1

1973

TO PRIORITY GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELHO 417 OF 30 APRIL INFO PRIORITY
PEKING

نظام اينكم

YOUR TELEGRAM NOS 444 AND 445: CHINESE REPRESENTATION IN HO:IG

KONG.

(FE)

1. MR ROYLE HAS RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING TELEGRAM DATED 21 APRIL FROM MR
KEVIN SINCLAIR, DAILY EXPRESS CORRESPONDENT IN HỌNG KONG: QUOTE WOULD
APPRECIATE FULL STATEMENT ON PRESENT STATE OF DISCUSSION BETWEEN UNITED
KINGDON AND CHINA RECARDING ESTABLISHMENT

OF CHINESE DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATION IN HONG KONG. UNDERSTAND THIS
DISCUSSED BY YOU ON LAST VISIT PEKING AND WOULD BE GRATEFUL FULLEST
DETAILS. REGARDS KEVIN SINCLAIR POSTSCRIPT HONG KONG

UNQUOTE.

2. PROVIDED YOU SEE NO OBJECTION, I WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD PASS
THE FOLLOWINC REPLY TO MR SINCLAIR FROM MR ROYLE: QUOTE THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TELEGRAM OF 21 APRIL, MY COLLEAGUE LADY TWEEDSMUIR WILL BE
ANSWERING A PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS ON THIS SUBJECT
ON 9 MAY. I DO NOT THINK IT WOULD BE RIGHT FOR ME TO ANTICIPATE WHAT SHE
WILL SAY.

I MI SORRY THAT I CANNOT BE MORE HELPFUL. KIND REGARDS, ANTHONY ROYLE
UNQUOTE,

DOUGLAS-HOME

+

FILES

FED

HKIOD

NEWS D

PS/MR ROYLE MR WILFORD SIR E NORRIS

CONFIDENTIAL

+

M HONG KONG 260846Z

NCLASSIFIED

TO ROUTINE FCO TELNO 445 OF 26 APRIL INFO PEKING.

THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF A FRONT PAGE ARTICLE WHICH APPEARED IN
THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST TODAY (THURSDAY) UNDER THE HEADING QUOTE A
CHINA OFFICE IN HONG KONG A CERTAINTY UNQUOTE:-

CHINA IS VIRTUALLY CERTAIN TO HAVE A QUOTE REPRESENTATIVE

UNQUOTE OFFICE IN HONG KONG WITH THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

BUT JUST WHEN IT WILL BE SET UP IS THE BIG QUESTION.

TALKS AT A QUOTE SENIOR UNQUOTE LEVEL ARE BEING HELD IN WHITEHALL AND IN
PEKING ABOUT THE FORMATION, THE STATUS AND THE LIKELY STAFFING OF THE
CHINESE OFFICE IN HONG KONG.

BUT ALTHOUGH CHINA HAS RAISED THE QUESTION OF REPRESENTATION TWICE WITH
BRITISH MINISTERS IN THE PAST YEAR IT HAS NOT BEEN PRESSED RECENTLY AT
MINISTERIAL LEVEL.

IT SEEMS LIKELY, HOWEVER, THAT A GO AHEAD WILL EVENTUALLY BE GIVEN BY
LONDON DESPITE SOME RESERVATIONS BY OFFICIALS.

ONE OF THE FORMOST ADVOCATES OF AN OFFICIAL CHINESE REPRESENT- ATION IN
HONG KONG WITHIN THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT IS THE UNDER- SECRETARY OF STATE
FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS, MR ANTHONY

ROYLE.

IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT SINCE MR ROYLE'S LAST TRIP TO CHINA LAST YEAR,
WHEN HE WAS QUOTE OVERWHELMED UNQUOTED BY AN ENTHUSIASTIC CHINESE
WELCOME AND FLEW IN A BRITISH JET AIRCRAFT WITH AN ALL-BRITIB CREW BACK
TO HONG KONG FROM SHANGHAI, HE HAS BEEN PRAISING THE QUOTE NEW CHINA
UNQUOTE IN LONDON.

IT IS KNOWN THAT HONG KONG GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES HAVE SENT A FULL
AND DETAILED REPORT TO LONDON ABOUT THE POSSIBILITIES OF ESTABLISHMENT
HERE OF A CHINESE OFFICE.

THESE ARGUMENTS ARE, ON THE GOOD SIDE;

IT WILL MEAN GREATER CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG IF AN OFFICIAL CHINESE
REPRESENTATIVE IN THE COLONY INDICATES TO LOCAL PEOPLE

PUNERE ADE OUATE AUULTE MŁODY

1

1

1

F

H

TI WILL HEAN GAIRIET VOR DE NON IN HONG RUNG IF AN OFFICIAL CHINESE
REPRESENTATIVE IN THE COLONY INDICATES TO LOCAL PEOPLE

THE OUTSIDE WORLD THAT THE CHINESE ARE QUOTE QUITE HAPPY H THE WAY
THINGS ARE GOING UNQUOTE.

IT WILL MEAN AN EASING OF VISA AND TRADE RESTRICTIONS.

A

BUT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN, IT IS BELIEVED THE FOLLOWING POINTS
HAVE BEEN TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION:

:

IN TIMES OF PEACE THERE WILL BE NO PROBLEMS, BUT IN TIMES OF STRIFE THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF AN OFFICIAL CHINESE OFFICE IN THE COLONY WOULD BE A
FOCAL POINT FOR TROUBLE.

THIS COULD HAVE A CRUCIAL BEARING ON CONFIDENCE IN THE COLONY.

ANOTHER DANGER IS THAT, ALTHOUGH CHINESE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS KOULD NOT
SEEK, NECESSARILY, TO PROPEL THEMSELVES INTO THE PUBLIC EYE, PRESENT
MINOR TROUBLES SUCH AS TEACHERS' DISPUTES COULD MEAN A LARGE PROPORTION
OF THE POPULATION WOULD REGARD THE MAINLAND REPRESENTATIVE AS A QUOTE
CHINESE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG UNQUOTE.

THE QUESTION OF CHINESE REPRESENTATION WILL BE RAISED IN THE BRITISH
HOUSE OF LAORDS NEXT WEEK BY A LABOUR PEER, LORD BROCKWAY,

LORD BROCKWAY ASKED IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS ON APRIL 16 ABOUT PROPOSALS
THAT CHINA SHOULD HAVE OFFICIAL STATUS IN HONG KONG,

HE WILL BE ANSWERED IN AN OFFICAL STATEMENT BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO
THE LORDS ON 9 MAY.

SPEAKING TO THE S.C.M. POST IN A RADIO TELEPHONE INTERVIEW LAST NIGHT HE
SAID HE WOULD BE QUOTE DELIGHTED UNQUOTE IF THE CHINESE REQUEST FOR
REPRESENTATION IN HONG KONG WAS GRANTED.

QUOTE I THINK IT IS VERY NECESSARY UNQUOTE, LORD BROCKWAY SAID, QUOTE
ESPECIALLY IN VIEW OF THE CHINESE POSITION IN REGARD TO HONG KONG
UNQUOTE.

HE SAID HE HAD NEVER BEEN TO THE COLONY, BUT REGARDED CHINA AS BEING
VERY IMPORTANT TO THE PEACE OF THE WORLD.

QUOTE I AM A TRADE UNIONIST AND SOCIALIST AND I AM CONVINCED THAT THE
ATTITUDE TAKEN BY THE WORKERS IN CHINA TO IMPROVE THEIR CONDITIONS AND
THE ANSWERS TO THE FAMILY OF NATIONS ARE CORRECT UNQUOTE.

t

P

+

I

!

PORNTIONS ALL THE A

"UNQUOTE.

T

+

VI

ד

FORD BROCKWAY SAID: QUOTE THERE HAVE BEEN SOME INDICATIONS IN LONDON
THAT A DECISION IN THE DIRECTION OF WHITEHALL AGREEMENT TO CHINESE
REPRESENTATION IN HONG KONG HAVE BEEN REACHED

UNQUOTE.

ASKED IF THIS MEANT A DECISION AT THE LEVEL OF THE PRIME MINISTER, HE
SAID HE COULD NOT SAY, BUT ADDED IT HAD QUOTE CERTAINLY BEEN DISCUSSED
BY THE FOREIGN AND COM440NWEALTH OFFICE UNQUOTE.

LORD BROCKWAY SAID HE WOULD NOT DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITIES OF CHINESE
REPRESENTATION IN HONG KONG BEING UNDER CONSIDERATION BY THE BRITISH
PARLIAMENT.

THE OFFICIAL CHINESE REPRESENTATIVES IN HONG KONG TODAY ARE SPLIT INTO
THREE CAREFULLY-SELECTED BRANCHES

HSINHUA, THE NEW CHINA NEWS AGENCY STAFF, OF WHICH THE LEADING MEMBER IS
MR LIANG WEI-LIN, WHO TRAVELS TO AND FRO ON A DIPLOMATIC PASSPORT WHICH
DESCRIBES HIM AS A BONA FIDE MEMBER OF THE PEKING CONSULAR CORPS.

OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PEKING PRESS IN HONG KONG ARE ALSO QUOTE DIPLOMATS
UNQUOTE ACCORDING TO THEIR PASSPORTS.

MEMBERS OF THE CHINA RESOURCES STAFF, WHO HEAD MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR
NEGOTIATIONS WITH WESTERN ORGANISATIONS. AND

STAFF OF THE BANK OF CHINA, THE MEN WHO HAVE TWO MAJOR ROLES IN THE
ECONOMY OF THE COLONY: HANDLING THE VAST IN-FLOW

OF REMITTANCES FROM OVERSEAS CHINESE AND THE TRADE DEALS (MOSTLY
INVOLVING HONG KONG FOOD) FROM CHINA.

MACLEHO SE

+

NNNN

SENT AT 26/09272 RD

HONG KONG STANDARD. APRIL 15πt' 73

-

Peking bid for

HK office:

No official

moves yet

BRITAIN is not going to allow China to establish an office in Hongkong
at the moment. But the Foreign Office has admitted that the politically
sensitive question is still being considered.

According to news agency reports from London, a Foreign Office spokesman
told a press conference on Friday that Peking's proposal was "under
review but not 1. "vely at present".

+

A

spokesma for the Hongkong Government saad in

statement yesterday That the question of a Chinese representabre coming
into the Colony "hat not been muted

The Hongkong Government but it has been raised front time to time duping
the past few year with the Brush Government

"So far as we know," said the $lalement "no official discussions are
taking place at the in".

T

Observer in London clasın The British Government's hexilation over the
question it is 15 yeast since Peking fast ninde the request waser from
The supposition thai China wishes to establish a senior official
liangkong who might interfere with the role of the coloral government
here.

Experts

Hongkong

תון

however, disagree with

umpban and can see little hami in such an office being ket up.

Professor P. B. Harris of the Political Science Department of the
Hongkong Unirealty told the longkong Standard yesterday that he saw
renewed unese request s "extremely interesting" but not ma political
manoeuvre.

H

the

Prol Ilarms sard that because Peking had mad request Instead of
**demand" to Britam pigosted that Hungkong was being regarded with "
Than degree of acceptance" by Chine. He saw the "staggering difference
from the CS demands for representation in 1967

1 "Yolc of confidence in Hongkong".

The professor said "that he thought

"perfectly possible" that Britain would agree to the request ultimately.
He said, however, that in view

of the legal and procedural complexities connected with Poking making
further

recognition of Hongkong's colonul status, the capacchet of a Chinese
representative would have to be "very clearly defined".

It was a possibility, "but a very unlikely one" that Peking intended the
more political weapon. said Proj Harris.

He pointed out that China ready has a "fully equipped Trade Service in
Hongkong al the Bank of China and he supposed that new office would be
an "official" one. Prof Harris said that it was also possible that a
senior official of The Bank may be appointed to the new post. thus
avoiding aggravating Brush fear that à top

from Peking who could be seen at a public al representative would tike
The poil.

man

Another China

expert. Professor Dut Shen-yu, political science levarer at the Chinese
University also thought i likely

that the office would be sel

1..

"It will be an informal one which can handle not only Irude. bul other

+

including consulur and townsas matka he said. lie added that the office
night also serve Lor Clunese exploratory discusIDES with the Tawan
Gioremmail.

En

PELLING BEL

Mr Ma Man-fai, Chairman of the United Nations Association in Hongkong,
disagreed with the professors. He said that although the Chinese would
hol want to interfere in the dumetic affaus of Hongkong. it was
inevitable that the offic would become involved because of the wishes of
the people of the Colony.

H

" peñonally welcome the move. he said. "and 1 think the majonly of
Hongkong People will be delighted". Mi

because the

Ma felt that

longkang Goverturient wer "paymg only tipservice" to Chinese

Focalisation, that

presentative would become " voice that the Govemment can respect".

Diplomati in the Colony KUTS that the proposed office would be
polítically involved.

File.

19/5/1973

Reference StRD FED

Hansard Extract

Vol: 342 House of Commans

Co1:403

Lords

written

Oral

7

403

Hong Kong and

【9 MAY 1973]

HOUSE OF LORDS

Wednesday, 9th May, 1975

The House meat half past two of the clock: The LORD CHANCELLOR on the
Woolsack.

Prayers-Read by the Lord Bishop of Portsmouth.

HONG KONG AND CHINESE REPRESENTATION

Chinese Representation

404

the success of the trade mission in China. and in view also of the great
hopes that there are of developing trade with China, it would be a pity
if this matter could not be dealt with in a manner satisfactory to both
sides?

of

BARONESS 'TWEEDSMUIR BELHELVIE: My Lords, we certainly hope that it can
be settled to the satis- faction of both sides. But we do not think that
it has in fact any link with trade, which, as the noble Lord rightly
said, is improving.

LORD BYERS: My Lords, may I ask the noble Baroness whether, parallel
with

LORD BROCKWAY: My Lords, I beg this, it would not be possible to
accelerate

leave to ask the Question which stands

in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether China bas requested the
establishment of a diplomatic mission in Hong Kong: and, if so, what
decision has been reached.

THE MINISTER OF STATE. FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (BARONESS
TWEEDSMDIR OF BELIELVIE): My Lords, the Chinese Government has proposed
that a repre sentative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should be
established in Hong Kong. This proposal is still under consideration.

LORD BROCKWAY: My Lords. I thank the noble Baroness for that Answer. May
I ask her whether there is not increasing evidence that Peking
recognises the value of Hong Kong separate and distinct from China an à
link with the rest of the world, and may it not be that a diplomatic
mission would stabilise this position immediately, what- ever the
ultimate status of Hong Kong, particularly if democratic self-government
is developed within Hong Kong itself?

BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE: My Lords, I am not so sure about a
diplomatic mission. The Chinese Foreign Minister has accepted my right
honourable friend's invitation to visit this country, and although dates
remain to he settled I think that perhaps that is the best way to pursue
the matter.

LORD BESWICK: My Lords, is the nulle Ikutinieka aware that in view of

H.L. 23 D 2

the provision of a direct air link between Peking and Hong Kong for
trade and other purposes? When I was in Peking that was what was
required.

OF

BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR BELHELVIE: My Lords, the Chinese have suggested that
talks about an air service agreement should take place in Peking at the
end of May.

LORD SEGAL: My Lords, is not the present situation in Hong Kong suffi-
ciently stable to justify a continuation of the status quot

BARONESS

OF

TWEEDSMUIR BELHELVIE: My Lords, it is perfectly true that there are
well-established chan- nels of communication, and that is why my right
honourable friend is giving this matter long and careful thought.

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.