TNAG-0839-FCO40-1048-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-China-1979 — Page 156

CONFIDENTIAL

9.

I also believe it right to respond to China's

enthusiasm for modernisation by exploiting the educational,

scientific and cultural fields. I want to see us well

into English language teaching ahead of the Americans.

Moreover a China whose rising generation is more exposed

to Western traditions and practices should be in less

danger of misunderstanding us; in time she may become more

susceptible to Western ideas and more willing to accept

the complex and constantly developing forms of inter-

national cooperation. The Science and Technology Agreement

and our expanding educational contacts point the way;

initially perhaps more to China's benefit than our own;

but we ourselves may benefit more as time goes on and

should seek to do so.

10.

I agree with the analysis in paragraphs 15 and 16

of your despatch. I take note of your conclusion that

the general message coming out of China is hopeful and

provides us with encouraging opportunities. We shall

pursue these.

We must take account of the possibility

that the Chinese desire for Western technology might out-

strip her ability to develop the resources with which to

pay for it.

We also need to guard against the

possibility that the pot might in fact boil over at some

point and that modernisation might again be abandoned in

favour of more inward looking policies and a reduced

involvement with the outside world.

It makes sense

in terms of our world wide interests to do what we can to

prevent this happening and I shall continue to look to you

/to monitor