253)
AS EARLY AS IN MARCH, 1972, THE CHINESE REPRESENTATIVE
TO THE UNITED NATIONS HAD EXPLICITLY STATED THIS POSITION
OF CHINA ON HONGKONG IN HIS LETTER TO THE CHAIRMAN OF
THE U.N. SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON DECOLONIZATION.
MRS THATCHER KNOWS ONLY TOO WELL THAT THE INDEPENDENCE OF
HONGKONG IS IMPOSSIBLE AND THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AND
PEOPLE WILL NEVER AGREE TO THIS. THEN WHY DID SHE BOTHER TO
MAKE SUCH REMARKS? DID SHE WANT TO ABET OUR HONGKONG COMPATRIOTS
IN SEPARATING FROM THEIR MOTHERLAND? DID SHE ATTEMPT TO EXERT
PRESSURE ON THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT SO AS TO BLOCK ITS RECOVERY
OF SOVEREIGNTY OVER HONGKONG? OR DID SHE HAVE BOTH IN MIND?
ONE CANNOT BUT BE SERIOUSLY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS:
THE CHINESE PEOPLE FIRMLY-OPPOSE AND STRONGLY CONDEMN ANY
STATEMENTS OR ACTIONS MEANT TO DISMEMBER A COUNTRY OR A NATION.
IT WOULD BE WISE NOT TO FORGET THE WAVES OF PROTESTS ON THE
TERRITORY OF CHINA INCLUDING HONGKONG CAUSED BY A SPEECH
IN SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR PREACHING THE THREE UNEQUAL TREATIES ON
HONGKONG AS STILL VALID''.
FURTHER, IT SOUNDS RIDICULOUS TO CLAIM THAT ' BRITAIN DOES 'NT
TAKE A PENNYPIECE OUT OF HONGKONG''. THE HONGKONG AND
SHANGHAI BANKING CORPORATION ADMITTED IN A REPORT LAST JUNE
THAT MAJOR AND PROFITABLVE BRITISH INVESTMENTS IS VISIBLE IN
ALMOST EVERY SECTOR OF THE HONGKONG ECONOMY. BRITAIN REVENUE
IN HONGKONG HAS EXCEEDED ITS PRESENT VISIBLE TRADE DEFICIT.
EVEN BRITISH UNDER-SECRETARY FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
RICHARD LUCE HAD TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT HONGKONG IS VITAL TO
BRITAIN SINCE IT IS ITS LARGEST EXPORT MARKET IN THE FAR EAST.
SINCE SOME BRITISH OFFICIALS STATED TIME AND AGAIN THAT BRITAIN
HAS A MORAL RESPONSIBILITY'' FOR HONG KONG, THEN, THEY SHOULD CHANGE THEIR USUAL PRACTICE AND CEASE TO PUT OBSTACLES IN THE
WAY FOR HONGKONG TO RETURN TO THE EMBRACE OF ITS MOTHERLAND.
THIS SHOULD BE BRITAIN'S MORAL RESPONSIBILITY'' FOR HONGKONG.
NOW IN THE 1980S, IT IS EVIDENTLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR ANYONE TO
HAVE HIS WAY BY REVIVING THE POLICY OF THE 19TH CENTURY.
WE HOPE THAT BRITAIN WOULD GO WITH THE TIDE, ABANDON THE
LINGERING DREAM OF A COLONIALIST EMPIRE AND COOPERATE FRIENDLY
WITH CHINA IN A SINCERE AND CONSTRUCTIVE ATTITUDE FOR A FAIR
SETTLEMENT OF THE HONGKONG ISSUE SO AS TO ENSURE THE STABILITY
AND PROSPERITY OF HONGKONG.
ENDS
2. SEE MIFT FOR COMMENT.
CLARK
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
COPIES TO
LIMITED
MR BURROWS
SIR IAN SINCLAIR LEGAL ADVISER LEGAL ADVISER
HD/HKD
HD/FED
MR ROBERTS
NEWS D
HD/PLANNING STAFF
HD/PUSD
PS
PS/LADY YOUNG
PS/MR LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR J BULLARD
MR GIFFARD
MR DONALD
MR WRIGHT
2
SIR A PARSONS
MR WALKER
ASSESSMENTS STAFF
CABINET OFFICE
PUSD
NO 10 DOWNING STREET
NO 10 DOWNING STREET
RESEARCH D OAB 2/82
MR MARTIN
MR FLOWER
MR COLES
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.