CONFIDENTIAL
unpromising. We therefore face the unpleasant prospect of members of our
Mission having to remain in Poking for some considerable time.
6. The Chinese aim has apparently been to try to blackmail us to make
concessions over Hong Kong which in the end will lead to the creation of a
Macao-type situation there. This is clearly unacceptable and all necessary
measures must be taken to maintain control. We should, however, consider
whon taking any specific action the possibility of repercussions on the
Mission in Peking, or on the Reuters representative (who is under house
arrest in Peking) or indeed on any British subjects in China. Any
fruitful negotiations on Hong Kong with the present Chinese leadership
scens out of the question.
7
One of the difficulties in trying to open any dialogue with the
Chinese at the moment is that it is not clear who is in charge in Peking.
There seems to be differences within the Chinese leadership, particularly
in the conduct of external affairs. There is considerable evidence that
members of the Cultural Revolution Group, including Chiang Ching
(Mrs. Mao Tse-tung) together with the Prine Minister Chou En-lai,
intervened to try to prevent the burning of the British Mission on
22 Lugust and that these sane persons are now excrcising their influence
to restore order throughout the country to prevent clashes between rival
revolutionary groups and generally damp down the Cultural Revolution.
Such
e donostic policy might be complemented by a less aggressive foreign policy.
This might include some easing off in Hong Kong. There are already signs
that the local communist leadership are trying to bring this about. (They
may have difficulty in bringing some of the extremist rank and file into
line.) If it were to occur, Sino-British relations might be restored to
something approaching normality and wo night conceivably be able to
maintain a Mission, probably of reduced size, in reasonable conditions.
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18.