TNAG-0031-FCO40-67-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 217

J.

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CONFIDENOTATA

Sir Record of Talks

see HWB4/, ANNEX NOT- же нови

Tactics of Chinese Negotiatiors at Hong Kong

Forder Talks

The following are thoughts on Chinese negotiating tactics

inspired by a perusal of the record of the Hong Kong border talks

held at Shumchun in November, 1967.

during the period 1 - 25 November.

There were ten meetings

Though these discussions were

on a local level, with a relatively low-ranking official on the

Chinese side (1.e. not a representative of the central government

or of the Canton Provincial authorities), the Chinese delegation

clearly received instructions on tactics in the course of

negotiations from their superiors. Some attempts to generalise

from our impressions of the talks may therefore be justified.

2.

It is perhaps a misnomer to refer to the talks as

"negotiations" since the Chinese were clearly determined to regard

them as discussions on the implementation of the demands of the

Chinese Foreign Ministry on the border question. They agreed to

substitute "points" for "demands" at one stage (second meeting page 2) but maintained throughout a dictatorial attitude on the

basic issues, the only real negotiations being on relatively minor

questions of the amount of "compensation", the time limit for the

removal of the wire fence, and the arrangements for the exchange

of detainees.

3. It is interesting that the Chinese played their main cară

(the 3 capture Hong Kong policemen) at the first meeting. Bhat they offered at the end of the first day's talks (first meeting,

page 12) is in substance what was achieved after ten meetings,

This was agreed the next dey

more than three weeks later.

f

CONFIDENTIAL

/(second meeting)