TNAG-0839-FCO40-1048-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-China-1979 — Page 21

CONFIDENTIAL

convince a cynical population that the modernisation movement is different from the many movements they have lived through in the

Above all, how past and will produce real and tangible benefits?

to achieve economic growth at capitalist rates while retaining Communist political virtue? These are explosive issues even if they were not compounded by personal rivalries and ambitions. There will therefore continue to be obscure internal manoeuvrings within the leadership and sometimes less obscure in-fighting. But the signs all are that China will continue to tackle the problems of modernisation in a realistic and undogmatic fashion and that the general direction of policy will be maintained. The recent session of the NPC is one of the grounds for reaching this generally optimistic conclusion.

20.

I am sending copies of this despatch to

HM Representatives at Washington, Tokyo, Moscow, New Delhi, Canberra, Singapore, Seoul and to the Governor, Hong Kong.

I have the honour to be

Sir

Your obedient Servant

Пасиваком

een

PERCY CRADOCK

CONFIDENTIAL

11.