DSR 11C
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counter-weights to the Soviet Union. There is little
evidence of any current Chinese subversion in Western
Eruope, where they appear not to have given support to
the activities of those claiming to be "Maoists".
China's chief priority will continue to be the contain-
ment of Soviet influence in the Third World, that they
can also be expected to support Third World anti-colonial
and anti-capitalist sentiment and to throw their weight
in all aspects of North-South relations behind the
aspirations of the developing countries.
24.
Implications for the United Kingdom
The preceding paragraphs have sketched out China's
present and likely future policies at home and abroad.
They touch British interests at a number of points:
(a) Hong Kong. The most direct, although not the
most important, is Hong Kong. The continued
existence of the colony is probably of some, but
not great, economic advantage in the United
Kingdom, mainly because of its value in civil
aviation, banking and insurance. The UK has a moral
obligation to the majority of the population who
do not want to be part of China, and we would be
faced with refugee and pensions problems if Hong
Kong was reabsorbed. We therefore share China's
interests in the maintenance of the status quo.
Good political relations with China will be important
in achieving this. It will probably be necessary
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