TNAG-0839-FCO40-1048-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-China-1979 — Page 77

CONFIDENTIAL

3.

Mr. Blaker then mentioned the influx of Vietnamese refugees into Hong Kong which had now reached 50,000. This was an impossible burden. Mr Song said China had already accepted over 200,000. They included overseas

They included overseas Chinese but also Vietnamese, amongst whom there were bad elements and spies. This was making problems for the Chinese Government. Mr Blaker mentioned the problem of the Norse Viking at Whampoa and our hope that the Chinese could accept the next port of call principle (Mr Song took note but professed to be unbriefed because of his month long absence abroad).

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4. Mr Blaker asked what the Chinese expected to emerge from their recent exchanges with the Soviet Union. Mr Song recalled that China had sent a note to the Soviet Government at the end of March denouncing the Friendship Treaty but proposing talks to normalise relations. The Soviet reaction to the denounciation of the Treaty had been a campaign of slander and attacks. A fortnight later they had however responded on the Chinese proposal for talks, and the Chinese had sent a second note suggesting the fixing of a place and a time for the talks It was now agreed that they would take place at Vice Ministerial level in Moscow. Mr Song said the Chinese regarded their relations with the Russians as abnormal. Soviet troops on the border threatened Chinam and apart from a few inter-Governmental contacts there was little else. There were no exchanges of tourists, sporting or cultural figures. Though there were many things in dispute, including the border question, China thought relations should be normalised. They had told the Soviet Union that China would continue to oppose hegemonistic policies but normalisation need not be affected by this. The success of the talks would depend on the Soviet attitude. improved so far as the border situation was concerned, relaxation would be possible; but China would still not stop opposing expansionism and hegemonism. Mr Song said that the Russians had been annoyed at the references in the China/Japan Friendship Treaty to hegemonism. Even though in earlier discussions with China they had said they wanted to talk about peaceful coexistence and resistance to hegemonism they had later changed their tune. Mr Blaker observed that in dealing with the Soviet Union we all be firm but reasonable.

If this

we must

5. The meeting came to an end at 10.30 am when Mr Blaker was called urgently to see the Secretary of State.

Far Eastern Department

14 June 1979