TNAG-1343-FCO40-1773-Visit-by-Margaret-Thatcher--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Beijing-fo-1984 — Page 55

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the Drafting of the Basic Law, in particular by obtaining assurances

if possible in a form which can be used publicly in Hong Kong, that Hong Kong people will be fully consulted about the Drafting of the

Basic Law.

iii) to reassure Chinese leaders that up to 1997 Hong Kong will

continue to be administered effectively and prudently.

B

Other

i)

to develop personal rapport with Chinese leaders, particularly Premier Zhao Ziyang (bearing in mind his visit to Britain planned

for 1985).

ii)

to demonstrate our desire that bilateral relations, which are

already good in theory, should gain in substance; and in particular:

iii)

to lay the foundation for a marked increase in Britain's

market share of Chinese imports (presented in terms of our stake

in Chinese modernisation);

iv) to underline the strategic importance we attach to an outward looking and economically reformist China; and

v) to continue the dialogue on international issues.

LIKELY CHINESE OBJECTIVES

4.

A Hong Kong

i) to reassure us

us (and through the public aspects of the visit,

Hong Kong opinion) of China's commitment to implementation of the

agreement.

ii) to prepare the ground for increasing their influence over the

administration of Hong Kong while keeping China's own hands free.

/iii)

CONFIDENTIAL