TNAG-0028-FCO40-64-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 229

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17.

It might be considered advisable to broaden the

mixture of candidates in an attempt to assess China's reaction

In this case the following could

to all types of deportees.

be included:-

(a) School officials.

(b)

Trade Union Officials;

(c)

Ordinary criminals of no political

significance.

Reaction of China

18.

The attitude of China towards any proposed

deportation is considered to be the key to the whole problem.

Obviously she may generally agree to proposals, disagree with

them or ignore them. Within these general attitudes however

are a multitude of variations open to her. Some of the more

likely variations are shown below:-

(a)

agreement if the people themselves wish to

return to China;

(b)

agreement if there is no guarantee to be given

that the deportees cannot return to Hong Kong;

(c)

agreement for selected deportees.

19.

Opinion is divided on the likely reaction by China.

There is firstly the point of view

that China is seeking some de-escalation in the present

Hong Kong situation. (The indications of this new attitude are

well-known and need not be repeated here). If this is a

genuine change of attitude China may welcome some move from

the Hong Kong Government which would help to implement a

policy of de-escalation. She might consider that the deportations

could be presented to her people as a release of prisoners

and partial agreement by the Hong Kong Government to the

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