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PROFERRED BY MRS THATCHER WHEN SHE WAS IN PEKING FOR THE
SIGNATURE OF THE JOINT DECLARATION ON HONG KONG IN
1984. THE VISIT WAS NOT CONNECTED WITH HONG KONG, ALTHOUGH IT
DID OF COURSE REFLECT THE EXCELLENT STATE OF SINO-BRITISH
RELATIONS FOLLOWING THE SIGNATURE OF THE HONG KONG AGREEMENT.
2.
HU AND LI VISITED THE UNITED KINGDOM FROM 8-12 JUNE. THEY
HAD MORE THAN TWO HOURS OF TALKS WITH THE PRIME MINISTER, WHO
ALSO ENTERTAINED THEM TO DINNER AT NO 10 DOWNING STREET. THE
QUEEN GAVE A LUNCH AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE. MRS THATCHER AND OTHER
SENIOR MINISTERS ATTENDED THE RETURN DINNER HOSTED BY THE CHINESE
AT THE END OF THEIR VISIT. LEADERS OF OPPOSITION PARTIES CALLED
ON THE GENERAL SECRETARY, AS DID MR TEBBIT AND MR HEATH. THE
SECRETARIES OF STATE FOR ENERGY AND FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY CALLED
ON LI PENG, FOR WHOM MR WALKER ALSO GAVE A LUNCH BEFORE A MEETING
ARRANGED BY THE SINO-BRITISH TRADE COUNCIL. THE CHINESE VISITORS
ALSO WENT TO PARLIAMENT AND TO STRATFORD AND OXFORD WHERE THE
CHANCELLOR, LORD STOCKTON, HOSTED A DINNER AFTER THE CHINESE
PARTY HAD VISITED A BRITISH FIRM AT THE FOREFRONT OF MODERN
TECHNOLOGY AND THE UNIVERSITY'S DEPARTMENT OF METALLURGY AND
SCIENCE OF MATERIALS.
3. THE PURPOSE OF THE VISIT WAS TO DEMONSTRATE TO HU YAOBANG (IN
CHARGE OF IDEOLOGY) AND LI PENG (SOVIET TRAINED) THAT THE WEST IS
FULLY COMMITTED TO THE SUCCESS OF CHINA'S MODERNISATION AND
OPENING TO THE WORLD, WITH BRITAIN MAKING A LARGE PRACTICAL
CONTRIBUTION. TO UNDERLINE THIS POINT AN AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED
BETWEEN SIR G HOWE, LI PENG AND SIR Y K PAO (A PROMINENT HONG
KONG BUSINESSMAN) TO BRING INTO EFFECT A SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME
SUGGESTED BY SIR Y K PAO, WHO IS ALSO A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO IT.
THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT SOUGHT TO USE THE SUCCESS OF SINO-BRITISH
COOPERATION IN THIS AREA, OVER HONG KONG, AND OVER THE RECENTLY
SIGNED AGREEMENTS FOR INVESTMENT PROTECTION AND DEVELOPMENT
LOANS, TO DEMONSTRATE OUR WISH TO ESTABLISH CLOSE COOPERATION IN
COMMERCIAL, SCIENTIFIC AND EDUCATIONAL FIELDS.
THE CHINESE HAD MADE CLEAR IN ADVANCE THAT HU YAOBANG, WHO
HOLDS NO GOVERNMENT POSITION, WAS NOT AN APPROPRIATE PERSON WITH
WHOM TO DISCUSS DETAILED BILATERAL AND COMMERCIAL MATTERS. HE
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