TNAG-1039-FCO40-1289-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 76

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prompted by Zhu Qizhen he recalled it had been written by Liu Huiquan.

Vice Chairman Li said that he had read quite a few comments on the article by foreign correspondents, but he could assure Mr Morrison that the timing during the Haig visit was a

Mr Morrison referred to the contents of the complete coincidence. article and said that it appeared that China was prepared to enter

Apart negotiations using the unequal treaties as some basis, from the legacy of unequal treaties were there other areas of problems? Were there other areas of territory outside the areas of the unequal treaties and which were occupied by the Soviet Union, and were there areas occupied by China which were also

Vice Chairman Li outside the scope of the unequal treaties? recalled that one and a half million square kilometres of Chinese territory had been annexed under the Russian part of the so-called

Lenin had announced at the time unequal treaties after 1917.

that he believed the treaties were unequal and that those areas should be returned to China. Vice Chairman Li said that there documents to that effect. However, China also recognised that in those days both the Russian and Chinese people were powerless and therefore China thought they could use the unequal treaties

In addition the Soviet Union had as a basis for negotiation. occupied some places which were outside the scope of the unequal treaties. This involved territory of some tens of thousands of

He claimed that China did not occupy any square kilometres, Soviet territory outside the scope of the territory included in the unequal treaties. Soviet occupation of Chinese territory was completely illegal. Li asked rhetorically: "If China did not raise these metters then how could it be accountable to its people?" Li said that some foreigners were concerned that Sino/

He said that he always Soviet relations might improve overnight.

were they

replied, that this question should be put to Moscow really willing? The Chinese position was that relations could be improved if the Soviet Union did the following things:

a)

give up its hegemonist policies;

b)

withdraw its troops from Afghanistan;

c)

d)

c)

make Vietnam withdraw its troops from Kampuchea and allow

Kampuchea to become a peaceful, independent and non-aligned country;

withdraw its troops from the Sino/Soviet border, at least to the levels of the Khruschev period, and

reduce the number of their troops in Mongolia.

Vice Chairman Li commenting said that he felt it would be very

If the Soviet Union hard to see the Soviet Union doing this. dropped hegemoniam then China would consider improving Sino/Soviet relations. Some people regarded this as a pre-condition but Vice Chairman Li said they were fundamental to Soviet international behaviour including its relations with China...

In conclusion Vice Chairman Li asked Senator Hamer to pass his best regards to the Prime Minister and Mrs Fraser.

Record prepared by, listy like

A.M. MoLez: