TNAG-1171-FCO40-1452-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 7

CONFIDENTIAL

6. Mr Safronov asked about the Prime Minister's visit which I explained was a return for Hua Guofeng's in 1999. Mr Safronov said that Mr Atkins had implied that discussions on the future of Hong Kong would be taken a stage further during the visit. I was not forthcoming but agreed that the question of Hong Kong was likely to come up. One day China would wish to administer the territory herself but they had probably not yet decided when this would be. Asked about the Falklands and Hong Kong I said that there was no connection in the Chinese mind. The Chinese had failed to understand the background to the Falklands problem. They were keen not to step out of line with the Third World but probably their main consideration had been Taiwan; after recognising Argentine sovereignty over the Falklands,it would have been inconsistent for them to deny Argentina's right to use force to regain her own territory for this would imply that China had no right to use force, if hecessary, to regain Taiwan. We were disappointed by China's stance, but the matter would not affect our bilateral relations. The Chinese have little experience as a member of the international community. Their position was rather different from that of the Soviet Union which had long experience and which we would have expected to understand clearly all the issues of principle involved.

2 June 1982

Nox.

N J Cox

Far Eastern Department K255

233.5539

cc: Mr Coton (Security M508)

Mrs Dean (Research G60/4) Mr Manning (EESD W103) Mr Morris (HKGD)

CONFIDENTIAL

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