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4.
FUTURE OF HONG KONG: MR HEATH'S RECENT VISIT TO CHINA
Problem
1
.
Flors 28/6 Pa
1. To follow up the Secretary of State's discussion on 7 April
with Mr Heath following the latter's visit to China.
Recommendation
2. I recommend that the Secretary of State invite Mr Heath to
call on him for a further discussion towards the end of April.
FED concur.
Background and Argument
3.
186.
Mr Heath visited China from 4 to 6 April.
Peking Telegram
No 202 of 6 April reports his conversation with Vice Premier Deng
Xiaoping, in which the latter expanded on earlier Chinese thinking.
Deng's remarks suggest some readiness by China to accept a
solution which would preserve a special position for Hong Kong,
but indicate that the Chinese are thinking of making it some
sort of special zone under the Chinese Constitution albeit with
considerable autonomy.
4. The Chinese have clearly taken Mr Heath's visit as an
opportunity to pass an important message to HMG. They may see
Mr Heath as a potential intermediary. We shall need to analyse
their position carefully. In the meantime we would not want
Mr Heath to respond to the Chinese; and if they seek a reaction
from him we should want to be able to suggest to him what he might
reply, both to avoid limiting HMG's freedom of action and because
Mr Heath's role should not be allowed to undercut the position of
the Prime Minister when she visits China in September.
SECRET
/5.
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