practical and psychological. Wong did not choose seriously to contout those arguments and I think Hong Kong do not now
challenge HM's view on the desirability of a Maritime Agreement. Wong was sceptical, on a practical level, about the Tovel of trade which would actually be generated by China's "economic renaissance". His view (shared, I must say, by mout of the shipowners I spoke to in Hong Kong) is that China has very limited potential for international tride in the short term. The lack of adequate internal ornication and the cumberone bureaucratic machinery of the Chinese Government will be severe inhibiting factors. It is widely felt in llon,: Kon' that it will be some time before China will give up established patterns of , trade which use Hong Kong as an outlet.
5 All in all, I now have the impression that the "lion,; Kon; dimension" is not a serious obstacle to the negotiation or a Maritime Agreement with China. Hong Kong's concems are eggenti- ally practical (based on the defence of certain economic interests) rather than political. Wong's view is that the Chinese will probably not agree to the formal inclusion of Hong Kong within a UK-China Agreement. Matters have got easier more recently - and Hong Kong's de facto status seems essentially recognised. But the Hong Kong Government view now coincides with that of GCBS calling for adequate safeguards on a commercial level but showing some flexibility as to the form of instrument of understanding through which these safeguards might be obtained.
6 This is not to say that we may not still have arruments with Hong Kong over the nature of the safeguards. But this is at least the sort of argument which can take place on the practical level. Wong requested that any UK delegation which went to Peking to negotiate a Maritime Agreement should include a Hon; Kong representative. I gave a non-committal renly but I suspect it would be in our own interest to take someone from Hong Kong's Marine Department along.
7 In general, this was a useful meeting, For the moment I think the needs or Hon: Kong constitute a less serious diffic the need to persuade the Chinese towirus some sort of under- standing on the cargo-siring aspect.
a
ל
I'm 422-40 akike flu
A J Pryor
SP3
28 June 1979
'
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.