CONFIDENTIAL
Joint Liaison Group over the implementation of the
agreement; and our perception of concerns in Hong Kong
over such matters as participation in the drafting of the
Basic Law. (This will require very careful
handling.) However we do not think it will be desirable or
necessary to go into matter of detail, and there will be
many non-Hong Kong issues to be covered in the short time
available.
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China.
3. In general the atmosphere of the talks will be as
important as substance, and more elusive: on past form
the meeting with Zhao Ziyang will probably not exceed two
hours, of which half the time will be for interpreting.
The Chinese now regard UK-China relations as having
entered a new phase and have said that they will give
politicial impetus to British commercial efforts in
They will be monitoring the Prime Minister's
visit closely for intimations of our own bilateral policy
following signature of the Hong Kong agreement. It will
be important, within the constraints of a short visit
with the agreement at centre stage, for the Prime
Minister to give positive signals. Against this, it will
be presentationally important, especially for Hong Kong
consumption, not to give commentators any opportunity to
claim that we have been influenced in our conduct of the
Hong Kong negotiations by hopes of commercial gain. This
precludes a high public profile for commercial matters
during the visit. Nevertheless, there is no reason why
trade should not be promoted strongly in private talks.
CONFIDENTIAL
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