TNAG-0616-FCO40-764-Policy-of-UK-on-status-of-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 57

DSK TIC

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interests are likely to be dominated by it for

many years.

بتها

They will not work for trouble on

their other frontiers.

(b) Unlike the Soviet Union, China is historically

not an expansionist power. She has a clear perception

for example it of, what her territory should be includes Tibet, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

But there is

no reason in her culture or history to suppose she has any territorial ambitions beyond her present frontiers (Taiwan and ultimately no doubt Hong Kong

excepted).

pohaps

The

Continuing

(c) Hong Kong is militarily indefensible. status quo suits both the UK and China. Chinese tolerance of it will depend largely on China's perception of the benefit (particularly economic) which she gets from Hong Kong.

Wing Anglo-Chinese relations could promote China to act against Hong Kong. Conversely, good relations, which British arms sales would promote, would have

the opposite effect.

But poor

(a) Once China has embarked on the path of

Geating

maintaining a modern industry and meeting the rising

in part

expectations of her large population, partly by

importing Western technology and equipment, she is

The West car likely to continue to need the latter.

expect to maintain its technological lead and the Chinese will (like the Soviet Union) continue to

seek Western assistance.

This will tend to moderate

any expansionist tendencies which might exist in

/China

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