representative government before 1997 might be used to resist
Chinese influence after 1997 has inevitably aroused their suspicions.
Taiwan
Chinese regard Taiwan as part of Chinese territory, aim is to "reunite" China based on the principle of "one country, two
systems".
Chinese sensitive to talk of "two Chinas" or "one China,
one Taiwan". Regard smooth transition in Hong Kong as model for
eventual reumfication with Taiwan.
Sensitive to references to Taiwan as an independent political entity or to nations setting up official links with Taiwan.
Tibet and Human Rights Issues
Chinese sensitive to any reference to "occupation" by China of Tibet. Regard Tibet as historically part of Chinese territory. Regard situation in Tibet as "internal" political matter.
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Sensitive to attempts to draw comparisons between the unrest in Tibet and the situation of Hong Kong after 1997.
The "Emily Law Incident"
Committee will have seen press reports about the Emily Lau incident. May be useful to set out the facts before your visit to Hong Kong and Peking. On 28 March, Hong Kong journalist, Emily Lau (Far Eastern Economic Review) and six others arrived at Tianjin with
m Chin'a petitions on democracy and human rights, addressed to the Chinese National People's Congress, which was then in session. These
petitions and other printed material were confiscated by the Chinese customs authorities on the grounds that they were clearly intended for distribution and thus contravened regulations, which state that imported material should be for private use. One member of the group who had previously served a prison sentence in the PRC was refused entry.