SECRET 高度機密
China Dimension
5.
The Chinese
reaction was
largely as expected.
There should be no illusion that the Chinese will be
persuaded by our arguments in support of the package.
gulf between what we considered to be
Given the wide
honourable and
acceptable and the Chinese fear of loss of
[their] control through the transition years and beyond,
plus their suspicion about British intentions there is no
prospect of an agreement or compromise on the basis of our
proposals.
It is clear that they will not accept our
proposals as basis for serious negotiation, and they are
counter proposals. They would insist
not
BL,
likely to make
that we accept their principles (i.e. convergence with the
adherence to previous understandings between the two
sides) as pre-conditions for negotiation. No progress can
therefore be expected in JLG or other formal discussions on
the package.
6.
HMA Peking's very valid observations are that
the Chinese will not acquiesce to the implementation of the
package i.e. our hope for an outcome similar to the dispute
over the Bill of Rights
legislation is now remote. The
Chinese will see the period immediately ahead in terms of a
Their aim will be to undermine public
sharp struggle.
support for the
Governor's proposals by claiming that the