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This was a long-term
5. In his talk with Lord Carrington in April 1981, Deng repeated these observations on Taiwan, adding that 'it would be necessary for Taiwan to abandon the name by which it called itself (ie 'Republic of China') as well as its flag.
It also reflected China's policy and not a matter of expediency.
In his talk with policy towards problems of a similar nature'. the Lord Privy Seal in January 1982 Premier Zhao Ziyang recalled China's 9-Point Proposal for Taiwan; 'from this, circles in Hong Kong and the British Government could get some idea of China's thinking'. In an interview with Reuters in mid-January the MFA Vice-Minister Zhong Xidong was asked to compare the Hong Kong and Taiwan problems. He replied: 'The Taiwan problem has already been solved legally. It is internationally agreed that it is a Chinese province. But the Hong Kong question has not been legally solved. China is ready to negotiate with Britain at an appropriate time to resolve this question'.
On the
6.
The Chinese are probably not drawing a precise analogy between Taiwan and Hong Kong. The circumstances are different, particularly over nomenclature. In Taiwan's case the Chinese require the renunciation of the title 'Republic of China' to remove the claim by the KMT to be the alternative government to China. Hong Kong presents no similar threat to the Chinese Government's legitimacy. Moreover, HMG have been careful to avoid moves which might be construed as steps towards independence for the territory. other hand, Hong Kong presents a problem for Peking of a different sort. While the Taiwan government is an indigenous Chinese body, There are thus issues Hong Kong is governed by an outside power.
Moreover, the question affecting sovereignty in both territories. of the flag (and other symbols of authority) which would be used in Taiwan is clearly of great importance to Peking. likely also to set store on this in discussing Hong Kong.
The Chinese are
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