TNAG-0839-FCO40-1048-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-China-1979 — Page 159

Registry Jo.

ECURITY CLASSIFICATION

Top Secret,

Secret.

Confidential.

Restricted.

Unclassified.

RIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

CONFIDENTIAL

DESPATCH

DRAFT

To:-

Type 1 +

From

Telephone No. Ext.

Department

DSR 11

BRITAIN'S RELATIONS WITH CHINA

1.

I was grateful for your despatch on the internal

situation in China and your tentative conclusions on its

implications for the future of China's relations with the

outside world. It is the sort of background I have

needed for the decisions the Government has to take about

the future development of our relations with China.

2.

Your despatch makes clear both how turbulent and self-

centred China has been for much of the period since the

collapse of the Manchu dynasty; and how unused the Chinese

have been to treating with the outside world on the basis

of anything approaching equality. They will have to do

much to convince the rest of the world that the new look

is the norm and not a temporary deviation. The leaders

who have emerged since Mao's death appear to understand

that a profound transformation of internal policies and

external relationships is needed if China is to achieve

stability, prosperity and a rightful place on the

international scene. It is important that the trans-

formation should stick: China will be an uncertain and

difficult country to live with if it does not.

trends that have emerged since Deng Xiaoping's return to

power are nevertheless encouraging and deserve encouragement

in our and other's interests.

The

But even if they are