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GES 140G CONFIDENTIAL
FM PEKING
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 310
OF 260842Z FEBRUARY 87
CONFIDENTIAL
In Phows (68
Attached by Bejatry Did weyet-
FOR FED:
Pee obtunds
x
SULLIVAN'S LETTER OF 10 FEBRUARY TO THOMSON:
COUNTRY ASSESSMENT PAPER.
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1. WE THINK THE DRAFT ENCLOSED WITH LUR (RECEIVED ON 24 FEBRUARY) IS VERY MUCH ON THE RIGHT LINES. OUR ONLY GENERAL COMMENT IS THAT IT MIGHT BE APPROPRIATE TO ADD TO THE INTRODUCTION A VERY SHORT
PARAGRAPH DESCRIBING THE DEVELOPMENT OF BILATERAL RELATIONS TO DATE,
WITH A MENTION OF THE STATE VISIT AS A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO
THAT PROCESS.
2. OUR DETAILED COMMENTS ARE AS FOLLOWS :-
(A) (PARA 1, SECOND SENTENCE) SUBSTITUTE OF COMMUNIST RULE FOR
''UNDER MAO ZEDONG LEADERSHIP''.
(B) (PARA 1, LAST SENTENCE) AS WE SAID IN OUR COMMENTS ON THE STATE VISIT FOLLOW-UP PAPER, WE THINK OUR INTEREST LIES IN ENSURING A SMOOTH HANDOVER IN CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH WILL GIVE HONG KONG THE BEST CHANGE OF REMAINING A FREE SOCIETY AND A CAPITALIST ECONOMY.
(C) (PARA 2, SECOND SENTENCE) DELETE SECOND HALF OF SENTENCE.
GROWTH IN EG THE COAL, STEEL, AND CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES HAS
BEEN SUBSTANTIAL.
(D) (PARA 3, AFTER FIRST SENTENCE) INSERT ''FURTHER DEVELOPMENT
REMAINS A HIGH PRIORITY''.
↑
(E) (PART 3, OLD SECOND SENTENCE} RECAST TO READ BUT FURTHER
IMPROVEMENT WILL BE MORE DIFFICULT. CULTIVATABLE LAND ...ETC''
(F) (PARA 4, LAST SENTENCE) SUBSITUTE IMPROVEMENT IN' FOR
''NORMALISATION OF''
(G) (PARA 4, END OF LAST SENTENCE) RECAST TO READ ...ONLY COUNTRY
WITH WHICH CHINA MAINTAINS AN ACTIVELY HOSTILE RELATIONSHIP.''
(H) (PARA 5, SECOND SENTENCE) RECAST TO READ **INTERNAL POLITICAL
LIFE IS NO LONGER CHARACTERISED BY CLASS STRUGGLE AS IN THE TWENTY FIVE YEARS AFTER 1949'
CONFIDENTIAL
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