TNAG-1249-FCO40-1563-Press-reports-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 172

COMMENT

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8. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT A DEFENCE OF THE CHINESE POSITION

IN TERMS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW HAS APPEARED IN THE PRESS HERE.

IT IS CLEARLY DESIGNED TO PUT FURTHER PRESSURE ON US, AND TIMED

FOR THIS ROUND OF TALKS. THE CHINESE USED SIMILAR TACTICS LAST

YEAR WHEN NEGOTIATING WITH THE AMERICANS, PARTICULARLY IN

RELATION TO THE LEGALITY OF THE TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT. THE ARTICLE

MAKES NO SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO THE POSITION ADOPTED BY THE

BRITISH SIDE IN THE TALKS, THOUGH IT CARRIES THOROUGHOUT A

STRONG IMPLICATION THAT THE POINTS BEING ATTACKED REPRESENT

OUR POSITION. IT DOES HOWEVER AT ONE POINT STATE ''THE BRITISH

SIDE SAYS THAT THE TASK OF THE BRITISH AND CHINESE NEGOTIATORS

WILL BE TO STUDY HOW TO AMEND THE TREATIES ON HONG KONG''

WHICH IS PRESUMABLY A REFERENCE TO THE PRIME MINISTER'S REMARKS

AT HER PRESS CONFERENCE IN HONG KONG LAST SEPTEMBER.

و

9. SEE MIFT.

HOWE

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