INFO ROUTINE FCO.
LONDON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA: VISAS.
1. CONSULAR DEPARTMENT, MFA, RAISED LAST MINUTE DIFFICULTIES ABOUT
ORCHESTRA'S VISAS WITH US THIS MORNING".
THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN A LACK OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THEM AND
THE ASSOCIATION FOR FRIENDSHIP WITH FOREIGN COUNTRIES, TO WHOM WE HANDED
PASSPORT DETAILS ON 8 FEBRUARY. CONSULAR DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED THAT THEY
WOULD NORMALLY EXPECT SUCH VISAS TO BE ISSUED IN LONDON AND THAT ISSUE
IN HONG KONG RAISED SERIOUS PROBLEMS FOR THE CHIMA TRAVEL SERVICE WHICH,
AS WE KNEW, WAS
NOT A PROPERLY CONSTITUTED CONSULAR OFFICE.
WHEN WE EXPLAINED THE SITUATION THEY APPEARED MOLLIFIED AND HAVE
UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE THAT VISAS ARE AUTHORISED
FOR ISSUE IN HONG KONG.
2.
HAVE APPLICATIONS ALREADY BEEN MADE? PLEASE LET US KNOW URGENTLY IF
ORCHESTRA ARE ENCOUNTERING ANY DIFFICULTIES.
ADDIS
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TO PRIORITY GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO 383 OF 17 APRIL 1973
AND TO PEKING.
YOUR TELEGRAM NO 398: CHINESE REPRESENTATION IN HONG KONG
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR
1. CHARLES SMITH HAS NOW GIVEN US IN CONFIDENCE A TRANSCRIPT
OF THE INTERVIEW WITH CH'LAO KUAN-HUA, WE ARE SENDING COPIES
TO YOU AND PEKING BY THE BAG CLOSING ON 18 APRIL UNDER A LETTER
OF COMMENT.
DOUGLAS-HGME
PILES
FED
HKIOD
M WILFORD
SIR E NORRIS
CONFIDENTIAL
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COVERING SECRET
CONFIDENTIAL
Mr Wilford
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R.E.
17/4.
CHINESE REPRESENTATION IN HONG KONG
1.
I submit the draft of a letter for you to send to
Sir Murray MacLehose by the bag which closes at 10 am
tomorrow. I also submit the draft of a short telegram of
warning (we promised to telegraph again in FCO telegram
No 365 to Hong Kong).
2. Mr Stuart concurs in the two drafts.
17 April 1973
Rim. Eron
CONFIDENTIAL
RM Evans
Far Eastern Department
MW%
14
M. Stadt
-HKIO
81
35
THE FINANCIAL TIMES
THE FINANCIAL TIMES LTD BRACKEN HOUSE CANNON STREET LONDON EC4P 4BY
TELEGRAMS FINANTIMO LONDON TELEX 888341-2 TEL 01-248 8000
E/CS/RJ.
Enier.
Dfi lene: i5 für Murray
Richard Evans, Esq.,
Far East Department,
Foreign & Commonwealth Office,
Whitehall London, S.W.1.
naceehore.
16th April, 1973.
RE.
17/14.
Dear Richard,
Here is the nearest I can get to a transcript of the Chiao interview. I
have followed my notes faithfülly and have not attempted to clarify a
number of obscure passages. I trust this is what you wanted.
With best wishes,
Yours sincerely,
རི་ད་གྱིས་ཐ་
Charles Smith
Mi Davies
Penose:.
(c) Circuecie copies to all who
will be present où r 心
Q
Drieking meeting on 18 April. Discuss further action wilń
me.
Ack / Submi / seat.
Comments.
R.E.
10/4.
THE FINANCIAL TIMES LIMITED
REGISTERED IN LONDON HUMBER TETESE
Contbutions to The Financial Times Limited may be included in the
company's syndication service for a penod of three months.
采
THE GUARDIAN
16 APR 1973
FE
PBO PUSER
Aerial diplomacy
by PATRICK KEATLEY, Diplomatic Correspondent
The British Government is matter that the new Ambas-¡ resisting pressure
from Peking sador to Japan refused to for the establishment of a con and
few in a special plane change aircraft in Hongkong sulate-general in
Hongkong and from Peking to Tokyo by thereby appears to be holding
another route. up conclusion of an air service agreement with China
which is frustrating for BOAC.
London chooses not to share J'eking's feeling of urgency but the Chinese
are irritated by the fact that their only liaison office in Hongkong is
the New China News Agency. So incensed are the Chinese about the Brush
refusal to settle the
The tit-for-tat technique is now being employed by China to budge the
Foreign Office. Peking has been given the text of a draft agreement for
setting up air routes by BOAC and the Chinese airline but is refusing to
reply until London acts on the Hongkong issue at least to the extent of
agreeing to open talks.
surdly i insepresentation
Entert
Cha
Transcript of Remarks about Hong Kong made by China's Vice Foreign
Minister, Chiao Kuan-hua during an Interview with Alan Hare,
naging Director of the Financial Times and Charles Smith, Far ast
Correspondent of the Financial Times. The Interview was held in Peking
on Friday, 30th March, 1973.
In response to a question (at the opening of the
However,
interview) about the state of Sino-British relations, Chiao said
that, in general, relations were developing very smoothly.
there was one question which was "still not solved". This was the
question of the Chinese Government appointing a representative in
Hong Kong. If this matter was not settled, other questions "would
arise". Chiao said that relations between Canton and Hong Kong
were "very close" but many things "could become troublesome" without
a settlement of the representative issue. Hong Kong's relations
with the mainland were the same as they had been "since the Second
World War". At the moment, Chiao said, the Hsinhua director acted
as China's representative in the Colony.
Chiao said that Premier Chou had discussed Hong Kong
"very clearly and frankly" with Sir Alec. But the British still
seemed to feel "some difficulty" over the Chinese proposal. Mr.
Royle had said in June that Britain "wanted to keep the balance"
in Hong Kong. The proposal to station a representative in Hong Kong
had been made "a long time ago" but the time for solution of the
question was "now mature". Practical matters whose solution could
be facilitated by an agreement on the representative included the
establishment of air connections and a direct rail link between
Hong Kong and Canton and the issue of visas for China in Hong Kong.
Chiao said it was difficult to issue visas without an official
representative. He pointed out that China was about to open a
liaison office in Washington. It was ironic that it could not have
a representative in Hong Kong.
- 2 -
At the end of the interview, Chiao reverted to Hong Kong
and the question of BCAC flights arose. Chiao said he "believed it
would be much easier for BOAC to fly to Feking" if the representative
issue were settled. The representative issue and the question of
airline connections were "connected to a considerable extent". At
the moment it was "not impossible, but not convenient for Chinese
officials to go to Hong Kong". China's ambassador to Japan went by
special aircraft to Tokyo "otherwise he could have taken the
Hong Kong route". In answer to questions about 1998, etc. Chiao
said "the problem of Hong Kong's future does not lie in the long
teru".
The British public was "not clear about changes in the
world situation. 1998 is still 25 years away with 25 years we
can work great changes". Changes in the world situation
"including the realignment of various forces" would continue and
would accelerate. Chiao said that the representative issue had
not been discussed on his own visit to London because of lack of
time.
HR FE B24
BOSTR
L
FINANCIAL TIMES
Cutting dated
16 APR 1973 19
**Hong Kong is cautious
·
about Peking advances
BY OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT
HONG KONG, April 15,
HONG KONG Is reacting grow and Hong Kong residents -cautiously to the
revival of would find it easier to spend a pressure from Peking to
estab- few days relaxing for a week-end lish some form of representation
in Kwantung Province. They say of the People's Republic of the train
from Canton which at China in the colony. No official present stops
short of the Lowu comment could be elicited from bridge at the frontier
could carry the usual Government sources. on down to the Kowloon termi-
However, it is known that Hong pal. Communications of all typer Kong has
grave reservations. The could be improved. Hong Kong presence of a
Kuomintang Com- sources point out, however, that missioner representing
the then there is no reason at present why Nationalist Government of
China Visas for China should not be until his departure on Britain's
issued in Hong Kong now, by the recognition of China in 1950 had China
Travel Service office here. been a source of embarrassment,.
particularly when friction arose between Left and Right wing factions in
the colony.
When the question was raised! In the mid-Afties the then *Governor, Sir
Alexander
Grantham, commented that he was unwilling to accede to the setting up of
a second, rival Government to his own in Hong Kong.
The matter, of course, is ond to be settled between London and Feking
but it is unlikely thad Hong Kong's advice will be enthusiastically
positive. It is pointed out that while in 1373 there are advantages in
an official Peking representation in the colony, had such an office
existed during the cultural revolution ⚫rlots of 1987 the Hong Kong
author.ties would have been
¦ under much more pressure than
they were.
The Hong Kong Goverar.cut feels also that the proposed advantages are
somewhat nebu Jous. Left-wing sources argue that an office could
facilitate all types of traffic between China and Hong Kong. Tourism
into China from Hong Kong would
Keep
Cha
السلام
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1
THE TIMES
|
cutting dated
14 April 1973.19
Hongkong doubts over Peking mission offer!
From Leo Goodstadt Hongkong, April 13
News agency reports today of China's desire to establish a mission in
Hongkong have had mixed reception in the colony.
The move would be highly welcome diplomatically to almost all shades of
opinion be cause it would imply a subtle change in Peking's present
atti- tude, which is de facto recogni- tion of a British dependent
territory on "sacred Chinese soil". The more formal status of the colony
as a British posses sion, which ■ Chinese mission to Hongkong would
imply, would be a further demonstration of Peking's benevolent
intentions towards the colony's long-term future.
Politically, however, opinton in Hongkong is divided. In the 1 past the
local administration has firmly opposed any such mis- sion, fearing a
repetition of the attempts made before Chairman Mao Tse-tung came to
power to use Chinese Government offi- 'cials in Hongkong as a rival
centre of authority and a focal
predominantly
Chinese com. munity access to food and con- sumer goods at prices well
below those paid elsewhere.
China has also enhanced its reputation with the Hongkong Government
through the highly responsible behaviour of the Ministry of Finance
officials sent to work in Peking-owned banks in the colony.
The local communist move- ment has also worked hard since 1969 to
demonstrate that it re flects Peking's own desire to see stability and
reasonable material progress in Hongkong, and it has stayed out of
industrial and other disputes during the past three years as far as
possible.
A serious security problem would arise if a Chinese mission were located
in the colony, as its staff would almost certainly be come the target
for Taiwan agents. They are believeu to have fomented acts of violence
in the past in order to harm Chinese relations with Hongkong and
Britain.
The site of the proposed mis- sion is already known. It is a mansion
with extensive
Enter
point for those who would like which belonged former grounds (4) top of
Megaz z bap
Peking to intervene in the colony's affairs.
These suspicions still prevail In official and private circles, although
China now behaves as if Hongkong's Chinese popula tion and its welfare
were the sole responsibility of the British authorities.
This relatively new attitude is becoming increasingly obvious. For
instance. Peking has increased its export prices to Hongkong to almost
world mar ket levels and dropped its preví. ous policy of giving
Hongkong's
to the Chinese maritime customs and became Peking's property on the
recognition of the People's Re public by London in 1950. Our Diplomatic
Staff writes: Foreign Office so irces confirm that China has several
cimes asked for official representa- tion in Hongkong since 1956, and
particularly in the last two years. Britain has the request under
consideration. 1: is not thought in Whitehall that the issue should
affect Anglo- Chinese relations op other matters.
FINANCIAL TIMES
Chona presses
for envoy in Hong
Kong
BY CHARLES SMITH, FAR EAST CORRESPONDENT
FE Mi Day
PBHX
PUSIR
Av. / Pusos
a Aree
Mr Evans
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R.E.
194.
will wish lisu
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Mi Smilk has
10/4
APR 1973
319
1 3 APR 1973
Cha
CHINA HAS been exerting pres- vice to China, but the view is sure on
Britain to agree to the taken that this matter is con-
of appointment
* 10 official nected an
a considerable ! Chinese representative in Hong extent " with the
question of Kong. British reluctance to a representative.
agree to this proposal could delay the settlement of other bilateral
issues between the two countries, including plans for the opening of a
BOAC scheduled service to Peking or Shanghai.
sense
Rejected
Although Chinese officials regard the whole question of a representative
in Hong Kong This has emerged from sources as being "nature for salulton
In both London and Peking, the issue, not a new one. although China's
of It was Brst raised by the urgency over the matter may Chinese
Government in February. not, as yet, be fully shared by 1956, and
rejected two years Britain.
later by Britain. China raised the matter again in the spring of 1971
and it is known to have come up in the talks held in Peking last year by
Sir Alec the Foreign and Mr. Anthony
Irony
At the moment the People's Douglas Home, Republic is represented in Hong
Secretary, Kong by the director of the Royle. the junior Foreign Office
Hsinhua (New
Far China) News Minister responsible for
Agency-an arrangement which Eastern affairs. has continued since the
estab Britain apparently avolded lishment of the Communist giving a
direct answer to the régime in 1949, but which the Chinese proposal at
both sets Government in Peking cleary of talks and the matter is still
regards as anachronistic.
understood to be "under con-
H
Chinese officials have com sideration" by the UK Govern. mented on the
"irony' that ment. However there are obvious China should be about to
estab- reasons why there should he lish a liaison office in Washing.
hesitation about China's request. ton but cannot yet have a repre
sentative on its own doorstep.
One is that so official Chinese representative in Hong Kong could become
a focus for politi But I was assured in Peking cal activity IA the
Colony recently that the lack of a repre- whether or not China itself
sentative office in Hong Kong wanted this to happen. poses a number of
practical Another fear is that the open- problems, particularly in the
ing of a Chinese official mi$$100 communications field.
might imply a change in the China claims it is not con- Colony's status
which, at the venient for members of the very least. could undermine
Chinese Government to travel business confidence. through Hong Kong
while the Britain and China representative issue remains un-
theoretically at odds over the settled TA recent case in point status of
Hong Kong since the was the new Chinese ambassador U.K regards the
territory as a to Japan. who travelled by. British Colony while China
sees special aircraft to Tokyo rather it as a plece of Chinese territory
than pass through the British which has passed under foreign Colony.)
administration as the result of an "unequal treaty."
the Talks
Officials in Peking have also indicated there will be difficul ties
about agreeing on establishment of a direct rail link between Hong Kong
and This dicatreement however, Canton while what they reward has not
"revented a smooth as the principal issue in Hong working relationship
belt.een Kong remains outstandırg. China and Hong Kong and there
++
H
There is less precision in have been no fears that China 19
la *
to hurry
obtain Peking about the question of an
the reversion." air services agreement and the Colony's start of a BOAC
scheduled ser-
Whether or not China really means to link the Hong Kong representative
issue with the proposed ROAC fights into
• China, progress on the latter Issue appears to have been slow.
speculcied intelligently
on subject over which I told him he must
specesje.
R.M. Eron
13 April, 1978
The text of an air SERVICES agreement has been presented to China by
Britain but there has still been no detailed Chinese reaction to the
draft. It is boord, bowever, that talks may ret under way in London
during the No.
next few weeks.
Peking.
Ritme.
、e.
3+
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TOP COPY
Fat
I
TO IMMEDIATE F C O TELNO 398 OF 13TH APRIL, 1973. INFO PRIORITY PEKING.
YOUR TELNO 3651 CHINESE REPRESENTATION IN HONG KONG.
*
THIS STORY IS THE HEADLINE IN THIS AFTERNOON'S 'CHINA MAIL'' WHICH
REFERS TO TWO NEWS AGENCIES (AP AND AFF) AS QUOTING A SENIOR BRITISH
SOURCE''. GIS HAVE SO FAR MANAGED TO
HOLD THE POSITION WITH THE FOLLOWING COMMENT,
''THIS MATTER HAS NOT BEEN RAISED WITH THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, BUT IT
HAS BEEN RAISED FROM TIME TO TIME DURING THE PAST FEW YEARS
WITH THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT.''
2. GIS HAVE JUST BEEN ASKED.
(1) WHAT IS THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S REACTION TO THIS LEAK''
(FROM LONDON)?
AND
(11) HOW DOES THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT VIEW THE SUGGESTION THAT
PEKING SHOULD SET UP SOME SORT OF SEMI-DIPLOMATIC MISSION IN HONG KONG
THEY PROPOSE TO REPLY AS FOLLOWS:
(1) "OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS THIS MATTER HAS BEEN RAISED FROM
TIME TO TIME IN LONDON AND PEKING,''
(11) ''SO FAR AS WE KNOW NO OFFICIAL DISCUSSIONS ARE TAKING PLACE
AT THE MOMENT. IN ANY CASE THIS IS A MATTER FOR HER MAJESTY'S COVERNMENT
AND THE CHINESE PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT,''
CONFIDENTIAL
15. in
CONFIDENTIAL
3.
IN ASSESSING THE IMPLICATIONS OF CH'IAO KUAN-HUA'S REMARKS IT WOULD BE
HELPFUL TO KNOW THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH THEY WERE MADE IN PARTICULAR
WHETHER THEY WERE VOLUNTEERED OR MADE IN REPLY TO A QUESTION.
MACLEHOSE
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]
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33
DESKEY 133JJAZ BOTII.
TO
SEDIATE GOVERHOR HONG KONG TELEGRAM HUBER 355 OF 12 APRIL 1973
AND TO PEKING.
CHINESE REPRESENTATION IN HONG KONG
ON THE STRENGTH OF REMARKS MADE TO CHARLES SMITH OF THE FINANCIAL TIMES
BY CH' LAO KUAN-HUA AT A RECENT INTERVIEW IN PEKING, SMITH'S COLLEAGUE
ROBERT GRAHAM ASKED ME ABOUT THIS SUBJECT AT AN CATTRIBUTABLE BRIEFING
WHICH I GAVE TO THE BRITISH DIPLOMATIC PRESS TODAY (12 APRIL). I SAID
THAT THE QUESTION OF OFFICIAL CHINESE REPRESENTATICH IN HONG KONG HAD
BEEN A LIVE ONE FOR SOME TIME: IT WOULD NEED CAREFUL CONSIDERATION. I
DID NOT THINK, H HOWEVER, THAT THE LACK OF A SOLUTION NEED HOLD UP THE
DEVELOPMENT OF COMMERCIAL RELATIONS BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA. HOR DID I
THINK THAT IT WOULD IN FACT HAVE THIS EFFECT.
2. SMITH INTENDS TO PUBLISH A PIECE ON THE SUBJECT IN THE FINANCIAL
TIMES TOMORROW (13 APRIL). WE HAVE PUT THE CHINESE PROPOSAL IN ITS
HISTORICAL CONTEXT AND HAVE EXPHASIZED TO HIM THAT IT IS STILL UNDER
CONSIDERATION.
3. CH'IAO KUAN-HUA APPARENTLY TOLD SMITH THAT ONLY ONE BIG PROBLEM**
REMAINED IN RELATIONS BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA, THE QUESTION OF
OFFICIAL CHINESE REPRESENTATION IN HONG KONG. THE SOLUTION OF OTHER
PROBLEMS, SUCH AS THE ISSUE OF VISAS (WE SHALL ASK SMITH TO ELUCIDATE
THIS) AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AIR AND RAIL LINKS BETWEEN HONG KONG AND
CANTON, WAS LINKED WITH ITS SOLUTION, IN ANSWER TO A QUESTION, CH'IAO
SAID THAT THE GRANT TO BOAC OF A SERVICE TO CHINA WAS **CONNECTED TO A
CONSIDERABLE
EXTENT''.
CONFIDENTIAL
/4. WE
CONFIDENTIAL,
A,
WE SHALL TELEGRAPH FURTHER WHEN WE HAVE SEEN THE PRESS TOMORROW AND HAVE
HAD TIME TO DIGEST THE IMPLICATIONS OF WHAT CH' [AO IS
ALLEGED TO HAVE SAID,
DOVEL AS-HOME
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TO ROUTINE FCO TELNO 321 OF 23 MARCH INFO PEKING. 1973.
FOR WILFORD
YOUR TELEGRAM 289.
INSTRUCTIONS WILL NOW BE SENT VIA THE NORMAL CHANNEL
OF COURSE REMAINS IN IGNORANCE OF THE TO-DO.
WHICH
MACLEHOSE
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MR WILFORD
SECRET
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FM FCO 221145Z
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SECRET
(HK)
1973
3
TO PRIORITY GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELNO. 269 OF 22 MARCH/INFO PRIORITY
PEKING.
FOLLOWING FOR GOVERNOR FROM WILFORD
匹
28
YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 325 AND PEKING TELEGRAM NO. 367 TO ME.
1. AFTER RECONSIDERING ALL THE OPTIONS I AGREE THAT WE SHOULD ACQUIESCE.
PRESURE THAT YOU WILL INSTRUCT PEKING ACCORDINGLY.
DOUGLAS-HOME
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SECRET
Bir Hurray MacLehose KCNO 128 TONG RONG
21 March 1973
1. Many thanks for your letter of 3 March about the steps which you have
taken to establish a working relationship with the head of the ICIA.
2. Xe quite agree that we ought to abstain from saying anything to the
Chinese about these steps (at any rate until the process has been taken
a good deal further forward) and think that the line you suggest we
should take if the Chinese themselves mention the matter is the right
one.
Sir John Addis ICHS PKKING
SECRET
K # Wilford
X AP
IMMEDIATE
PHER/CAT A 43 75
FM HONG KONG 198906Z
SECRET
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