BACKGROUND NOTES (may be freely used, except where
otherwise noted)
DSR 11C
VISIT TO CHINA : GENERAL
1.
Lord Carrington will be visiting at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister [recently promoted Vice Premier] Huang Hua, extended during his visit to Britain with Chairman [then also Premier] Hua Guofeng last year. He is looking forward to a further wide-ranging exchange of views with Chinese leaders, following his visit to China in 1975 and his discussions with Premier Hua and Foreign
Minister Huang during their visit to Britain. This will
be the third visit to China by a Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary: Sir Alec Douglas Home visited in 1972, and
Mr Anthony Crosland in 1976. Huang Hua has visited Britain
twice, in 1978, and with Chairman Hua last year. Lord
Currington visited China in
PURPOSE OF VISIT
2.
1975.
China has a major international role to play, and the UK and China share a wide range of interests. No agenda has been fixed for the talks, but we would expect them to
cover most of the major international issues, including
Afghanistan, South-East Asia and the Middle East. Some
important bilateral issues will also be discussed,
including Hogy Kong, and (in general terms) our
commercial relationship.
HONG KONG (unattributable only)
3. We expect the problem of the rapidly rising levels
of illegal immigration to be discussed. During Premier Ilua's visit last year, it was agreed that we should keep in touch about the long term future of Hong Kong, and
this will also doubtless be raised.
DEFENCE SALES : HARRIER
4.
The Chinese have been considering their priorities in the defence field very carefully (cf the recent
the. announcement of a reduction in defence budget), and we understand that Harrier does not rank high among them.
/The
RESTRICTED $4200(22454)DD.0532198 300M 7/79 GWB LTD.GP.870