CONFIDENTIAL
I.
SECRETARY OF STATE'S DISCUSSION WITH THE
PRIME MINISTER, 2 JULY 1982: CHINA AND HONG KONG
POINTS TO MAKE
CHINESE AMBASSADOR'S DINNER FOR DRIME MINISTER: 12 JULY 1982
1. The Ambassador's dinner is a normal courtesy before the
Prime Minister's visit to China in September. On such
occasions it is not usually Chinese custom to go into
substantive bilateral business, especially if the issues are
contentious.
2. The Prime Minister might like to ask the Ambassador
generally about the current position in China and about the
Chinese view of Soviet policy·
The
3. It would be best to steer clear of the Falklands.
Chinese Government took a pro-Argentina line (based upon
support for a Third World country, though they have made clear
that they see Hong Kong as a different problem to be settled
by peaceful negotiation at the right time). There would not
be much scope for open discussion on this.
4.
There would be no advantage in raising the future of
Hong Kong. The Ambassador is unlikely to do so, though he
might possibly try to probe our position on the issue before
the visit. If he did, the best line would be that the Prime
Minister is looking forward to discussing the problem which
is obviously complicated and moving towards a solution which
would take account of both governments interests and the
continuing prosperity of Hong Kong. There is, of course, no
/harm in
CONFIDENTIAL