TNAG-1623-FCO40-2237-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-China-1987 — Page 29

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From the Private Secretary

Dear Robert

10 DOWNING STREET

LONDON SW1A 2AA

Нив огов

Mary

лым

Ce 1/

Then PA Fur / China

на

ps/Lord Ghet harthen

PS/M MENO Ps/pus

Mrr Gillm

Mr Mchanan

Sir Omiers

MRD

UND

9 September 1987

Sout

Nors D

PRIME MINISTER'S MEETING WITH THE CHINESE AMBASSADOR

Qm

The Prime Minister saw the new Chinese Ambassador for a talk this afternoon.

The Gulf

The Prime Minister expressed concern about the situation in the Gulf. We placed great importance on the co-operation between the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council which had led to Resolution 598. We hoped that co-operation would continue. But we must keep together in activity not in inactivity. If the Secretary General was unable to obtain a definitive response from the Iranian government during his visit to Tehran, the Security Council should move on to impose an arms embargo.

The Ambassador handed over a reply from Zhao Ziyang to the Prime Minister's recent message about the Gulf (copy enclosed). He thought the general approach of the two governments was similar. Both hoped that the Security Council Resolution would lead to a ceasefire. Both supported the Secretary General's mission. The Chinese Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs had recently visited Tehran and had detected a slight relaxation in the rigid position of the Iranian Government. He also wished to tell the Prime Minister that the Jordanian Foreign Minister had just been in Peking at the head of an Arab League delegation. The Chinese Foreign Minister had made clear that the Secretary General must be given some time to succeed in his efforts. But if these failed and the Security Council thought it necessary to impose

arms embargo, China would abide by it. The Prime Minister commented that the Iranians must not be allowed to treat the Secretary General's mission as an excuse for delay.

Sino/British Relations

The Prime Minister spoke of the great importance of friendship between Britain and China. We were well content with the way in which trade and political relations were developing, and the work of the Joint Liaison Group on Hong

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