TNAG-1260-FCO40-1600-Briefings-for-Ministers-and-FCO-officials-on-the-future-of-H-1983 — Page 124

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pointed out that the Bruneians had 2 battalions of their own;

there were at present 150 to 200 British Military Advisers in

Brunei and the Commanding Officer of the Brunei Forces was British.

5 Mr Luce said that the prospect of Brunei's accession to ASEAN

was encouraging. ASEAN had considerable political strength.

Mr Burges Watson added that Mr Kapitsa (Deputy Foreign Minister)

had recently called in jointly the ASEAN Heads of Mission in Moscow:

the first time Moscow had treated ASEAN as a grouping.

6 Mr Donald said that the Chinese Ambassador had told him that

Mr Kapitsa's forthcoming visit to Peking was as a result of a Russian

request, although they were presenting it as a Chinese invitation.

The Chinese had not changed their position on the Sino-Soviet

dialogue.

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7 Mr Luce then raised the subject of Hong Kong. As far as Her

Majesty's Government was concerned it was most important to maintain

confidence in Hong Kong. ACM Siddhi replied that from their talks

with the Chinese it was clear to the Thais that the Chinese would

insist on sovereignty. Deng Xiaoping had doubts about China's need

to get back Hong Kong, but his was not a widely held view in China.

The Chinese were not happy with Mrs Thatcher's remarks in Hong Kong.

In his view, a gradual approach was the best way forward in talks

with the Chinese; it was a matter of time and the right tactics.

He felt that the problem of Hong Kong had been greatly exaggerated

by the Press and that many countries tried to exploit it. Thailand

was interested in the stability of Hong Kong and had agreed to the

extension of the Investment Protection Agreement signed with the

UK to Hong Kong itself. Mr Manaspas added that Thailand did not

to exploit any difficulties Hong Kong might be facing.

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/8 ACM Siddhi