DSR 11C
CONFIDENTIAL
The British Government knew which factors made for Hong
Kong's stability and prosperity. It would, however, be
difficult to get the Chinese to see these factors in an
identical light. Mr Adley was well-placed to help in
this respect.
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2. Mr Adley said it was important for the British
Government to realise that they held no trump cards to
help them resolve the Hong Kong problem. It would
therefore have been best to have accepted at the outset
the Chinese position on sovereignty over Hong Kong.
The remarks made by the Prime Minister during her press
conference in Hong Kong last year had seriously offended
the Chinese, and the British Government should be careful
to avoid offending them again in the future. In the
long term the whole range of our bilateral relations
with the Chinese was more important than good relations
with them specifically over Hong Kong.
Mr Adley said the Chinese Ambassador here had told him
privately on Tuesday last that:
(a) the stability of Hong Kong was the first priority
T
for all concerned;
(b) the Chinese people were extremely sensitive about
the sovereignty question;
(c) as soon as it became apparent that the British
Government understood this sensitivity, the Chinese
people would respond overwhelmingly towards
maintaining Hong Kong's stability;
(d) if the British Government were to accept China's
stand on the sovereignty question, immeasurable
CONFIDENTIAL