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will wish to continue the process, begun at the second Joint Liaison Group meeting in Peking in December, of reassuring the Chinese about our commitment to discharge in full our responsibilities under the Joint Declaration and in particular about our intentions on representative
government. (Assuming decisions are taken in time), He will with to
could tell the Chinese of our decision not to establish a separate internal security force in Hong Kong,
He may be no able to welcome the progress made on GATT and international obligations at the Working Group meetings in Peking on 8- January.
11. On other bilateral subjects, Mr Renton will wish to touch on the State Visit, and the visit to Britain in June by Communist Party General Secretary Hu Yaobang. He could refer, under cultural and educations relations, particularly to our wish to increase the numbers of Chinese students in Britain, and particularly our agreement in principle to participate in Sir Y K Pao's scholarship fund. Discussion on claims will set the scene for the formal negotiations due to begin in May. It would be helpful if he could explore the difficulties over a nuclear weapons declaration which has arisen with the proposed visit this July by ships from the Royal Navy task group deployment to the Far East; and encourage China to join the Non Proliferation Treaty. Remaining time could be devoted to trade and economic relations. Mr Renton could speak generally on the importance we attach to building on the success of the Guangdong Nuclear project negotiations, and the concrete support HMG is giving for increased trade (essentially Brief Nos 4A) - 4d)).
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Some
12. The meeting with the State Economic Commission Vice Minister will enable trade to be discussed more fully. judgement will be required about points of emphasis according to which Vice Minister is to appear: the Embassy will be able to advise. The Vice Minister will also brief
Mr Renton on China's economic reforms.
13. The approch to the meetings with Wu Xueqian and Ji Pengfei will also required judgement, depending on the outcome of the talks with Zhau Nan. It would probably be appropriate to devote about half the time with Wu Xueqian to Hong Kong, and half to outstanding bilateral and inter- national relations generally (Wu Xueqian visited Thailand 1from 26-28 December 1985). The meeting with Ji Penfei should be devoted entirely to Hong Kong.
14. Mr Renton's interlocuters in the provinces will probably wish to concentrate on trade, with particular emphasise on their own areas. Brief No 4e) includes particular British projects in each place which Mr Renton might mention.
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