TOP SECRET
There is evidence that China's current conclusion is to
leave things as they are.
General Aims
40. The Chinese intention is to take over Hong Kong, by
1997 at the latest. For the present, however, they seek to
gain the maximum degree of control over our actions consistent
with the maintenance of Hong Kong's value to them.
૧.
Sufficient to
They seek
spen measure of control as would leave them poised to take
over at any convenient time when we would either be bustled
out ignominiously or held as hostages.
The
41. The Chinese will move to recover Hong Kong whenever our disadvantages to them of car position there ontweigh the advantages position there becomes intolerable to them to the point where They derive from Hong Kongsrelamiing a
its value to them insufficiently justifies Hong Kong's separate
existence. They will use whatever forcible means are
necessary, which will include the mounting of a campaign of
internal violence supported by imported trained agents and
weapons.
42. It is likely that China would prefer not to have to take
Hong Kong by direct military attack, though such an attack
could not but succeed.
It would be more in keeping with
China's position on the efficacy of indigenous revolution
to create a situation in which local action would seem to
have caused a total breakdown and where a resort to military
force would be necessary, if at all, only to administer the
coup de grace. However, a display of military force might
be mounted in order to allow the Chinese to pose to the
populace as "liberators": and if all else failed and a
take-over became imperative, direct attack would unhesitatingly
be resorted to.
/Short-term Policies
TOP SECRET
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.