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China's Attitude to Hong Kong
There
6. Lord Goronwy-Roberts said that the present Chinese position towards Hong Kong was "the best for all concerned".
HMG's own relations with China were "good and constantly improving". was no reason why Hong Kong should become an issue between the two governments. HMG appreciated the way in which China accepted the present situation over Hong Kong. For its part, HMG accepted that the PRC regarded Hong Kong as part of the mainland of China. It was a triumph for all concerned that a potentially explosive situation was "co-operatively approached" so that a minimum of danger to Hong Kong was apparent and a maximum of possibility for Hong Kong's development existed.
Illegal Immigrants
7.
This satisfactory situation was well illustrated by the policy for dealing with illegal immigrants from China. These had been building up to numbers which had imposed a strain on Hong Kong's social services which no responsible government could ignore. The policy was working well thanks to China's attitude and Hong Kong's careful administration of the policy. Mr Sinclair said that he had been up on the Border shortly before leaving Hong Kong. The Army had said that they reckoned to catch one in three of would-be illegal immigrants; the others escaped. One problem was that some of the illegal immigrants were so desperate to get into Hong Kong that they sometimes resorted to violence when caught. There had been one or two incidents involving injuries to Army personnel.
Chinese Representation in Hong Kong
8.
Lord Goronwy-Roberts said that the Chinese did not seem to have renewed their proposal, made in 1973, for an official representative in Hong Kong. We did not see the need for it, and appreciated their forbearance in not pressing it. Their attitude did not derogate from their claim that Hong Kong was part of mainland China and HMG would not seek to adduce from their attitude that there was such a derogation on the part of the Chinese.
Anglo/Chinese Relations
9.
Mr Sinclair said that there were rumours in Hong Kong about a "top Chinese leader" paying a visit to the UK before long. Lord Goronwy-Roberts said that he was not aware of such a proposal. In saying that, however, he did not wish to suggest that HMG was indifferent to such a visit or, on the other hand, that the Chinese should send someone. In practice, it looked as though the Secretary of State's visit to China next May would be the next high level Ministerial visit in either direction.
Spey Engineer
10. Mr Sinclair said that he had seen a piece by Mr Chapman Pincher in the "Daily Express" (on either 6 or 8 December) about the possible sale of Spey aircraft engines to China and asked whether there was any basis for this report. Lord Goronwy-Roberts said that he had no comment to offer on the report. Discussions
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