Peking post in doubt as Ambassador says goodbye

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 34013, 29 November 1975, Page 3

Peking post in doubt as Ambassador says goodbye

t.VZrt Sruff Corre*pond<.’„D HONG KONG. November 28. New Zealand’s first Ambassador to China (Mr Bryce Harland) is making farewell calls on senior Chinese officials, amid speculation about future China-New Zealand relations if there is a change of Government tomorrow. The New China News! Agency reported without comment from Peking that Mr Harland had met Vice-, Premier Chang Chun-chiao at the end of his term in the Chinese capital. Also present were the ViceMinister for Foreign Affairs (Wang Hai-jung). the director of the Foreign Ministry Protocol Department (Chu Chuan-hsien). and Wu Fanwu and Tang Wen-sheng. deputy directors of the Department .f American and Oceanian Affairs Mr Harland, who has been Ambassador in Peking since September. 1973. is expected to return to New Zealand soon. He recently presented his credentials in Hanoi as New’ Zealand’s first Ambassador to North Vietnam. There is no indication who will succeed Mr Harland as Ambassador in Peking. But there is speculation in diplomatic circles that the job might go to Mr J. H. Weir, a senior career diplomat who

is at present High Commis-: sioner to Malaysia. t Mr Weir was formerly t High Commissioner to Singa- 1 pore, and subsequently As- ( sistant Secretary of Foreign ! Affairs in Wellington. t There are indications in Pe- t king that the Chinese, who 4 are taking a close interest if in the New Zealand election, would welcome the appoint- t ment of an experienced sen-lc ior diplomat such as Mr Weirlc as Ambassador. But a Na-! I tional Government under Mr 4 Muldoon might have other ic ideas. ! 1

The Leader of (he Opposition was reported as saying recently that the present High Commissioner in London (Mr Hugh Watt), might be “moved sideways” if there was a change of Government, and suggested Peking and Moscow as possible posts for him. The choice of a successor to Mr Harland is likely to be of some importance in the continued development of relations between Peking and Wellington, and Chinese officials dealing with New Zealand are obviously’ awaiting

• j the outcome of the election Jwith considerable interest. Mr Harland, despite a reputation for abrasiveness which is known to have upset some of his colleagues and others, is credited with having made a significant contribution to the present good relations between China and New Zealand. He and the Australian Ambassador (Dr Stephen Fitzgerald). are regarded as being among the best-informed envoys in Peking, according to fellow diplomats and foreign correspondents. Mr Harland is known to have developed a good relationship with the Chinese i Foreign Minister (Chiao | Kuan-hua). who has several times been a dinner guest at the New Zealand Embassy. The new Ambasador, whoever he is. will have the job of completing arrangements |for the visit to China of the Prime Minister (Mr Rowling), at the end of Apribnext year —if Mr Rowling is still Prime Minister. Mr Muldoon has said that a National Government ■would not turn the clock back in New Zealand’s relations with China, but his declared support for continued sporting and other contracts with Taiwan is unlikely > to make Peking very happv t