TNAG-0005-FCO40-41-Departmental-briefs-about-Hong-Kong-1968 — Page 88

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CONFIDENTIAL

Concluding Questions

47.

Conclusions, however tentative, do not

seem to be very worthwhile in any survey of

Asia over the next ten-fifteen years. The

situation is likely to remain very brittle

and it probably makes more sense to end with

a series of questions, discussion of which may

be fruitful.

(i) What are the possible trouble spots

and how predictable is the trouble

Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan,

Sino-Soviet border, Indonesia, Sino-

Indian border, Indo-Pakistan borders?

(ii) What sort of China is likely to

***

emerge from the Cultural Revolution ?

To what extent will it be possible or

desirable the West to communicate

with her, on either a political or

commercial plane ?

(iii) What real prospect is there of

indigenous grouping(s) to counter

Chinese pressures ? What can come

from a mixture of apprehension,

appeasement and affability ?

(iv) In the light of pressures nearer

home, what part are the Soviet Uni on

and the United States likely to play

in Asia in the '70s ?

(v) Will increasing Japanese influence in

Asia continue to be beneficial from a

Western point of view ?

CONFIDENTIAL

/(vi)