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considerable symbolic significance for the Chiense. The Group also gives them an institutional means to monitor and influence what goes
on in the territory.
7.
(a)
For the future we believe Chinese aims will be as follows:
through their institutional presence in Hong Kong
and their participation in the Group gradually to
increase their general influence on the Government
and over all sectors of society;
(b) to keep a close eye on the British administration
of Hong Kong, with particular reference to economic
and budgetary policy;
(c)
(d)
(e)
to achieve a droit de regard over constitutional
development and important changes in the public
service (in particular the selection of junior
personnel);
to educate their officials about the way Hong Kong
capitalist system works;
as our aim under 4(a), but with the overriding aim
of ensuring that autonomy in Hong Kong does not
lead to the development of political trends unacceptable to China.
PRACTICAL DECISIONS
8. In the light of these aims we need to begin considering a number of practical aspects of the work of the Joint Liaison Group,
as set out below.
9. In the initial period it is probably in ouf interests for the
meetings of the Group not to be too frequent. A gradual start to the activities of the Group would make it easier to accustom
Hong Kong to it. On the other hand there are already areas where
consultation with the Chinese is becoming necessary (eg the White
CONFIDENTIAL