TNAG-0839-FCO40-1048-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-China-1979 — Page 59

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Visit of Yang Yong

1. Yang Yong, the Chinese Deputy Chief of General

Staff, is visiting this country from 2 to 4 July. His

visit is in return for that of Sir Neil Cameron, the

Chief of Defence Staff, to China in March 1978.

What is the purpose of the visit?

2. It is a goodwill visit. No specific purpose lies

behind it, but a general exchange of views on military

matters is likely.

Harriers

3. As My hon Friend said in the House on the

thirteenth of June, we support in principle the sale

of Harrier aircraft to China. But the present

position is that we must'await the outcome of the

}

commercial negotiations which are continuing between

British Aerospace and the Chinese.

Other defence sales

4.

We are prepared to consider Chinese requests for

British military equipment on a case-by-case basis.

We are willing in principle to supply some items of

equipment, subject to our international obligations,

but we believe defence sales should be only a part of

a wider trade relationship.

/Possible