TNAG-1256-FCO40-1589-Third-countries-and-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 140

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Chinese propaganda, that when talking of sovereignty the Chinese

meant also the right to administer, since this was in their eyes

a function of sovereignty. Again, their public line was that

this was a matter of principle.

4. I explained that the talks were being conducted against a

background of good general relations between Britain and China,

and the atmosphere at the talks was friendly.

There was,

however, the phenomenon of the barrage of hostile Chinese

propaganda. I said that there were three possible objectives

in this propaganda stream. First, the Chinese wished to put pressure on the British negotiators. Secondly, they wished to

develop a 'united front' among the people of Hong Kong with a

view to separating their allegiance from the British and

directing those who would listen towards the Chinese 'motherland'.

Thirdly, the Chinese were engaged in what their ideologues

sometimes described as a 'tit for tat' struggle where they felt

obliged to answer criticisms and arguments which stemmed from

the press and other sources in Hong Kong, as well as in the London papers.

5.

Thus it was difficult for the outside observer to make much

of what was going on. It was the confidential talks that actually

counted. Nevertheless, some of the themes occurring in Chinese

propaganda had been touched upon in the talks. Others had not. Many were distorted. The main point was that we were negotiating

patiently and quietly, and intended to make a success of the

negotiation if we could. The next round of talks was scheduled

for 19 and 20 October.

6. Mr Francis expressed gratitude for this briefing which he

had found helpful background. He fully understood why I could

not go further without getting into details of the actual

negotiation.

7.

I was also asked about Brunei. I gave a brief account of

the negotiation which led to the September agreement with the

Sultan to retain the Gurkha battalion for a further five years.

Mr Francis was pleased to know.

Aratonald

A E Donald

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