TNAG-1871-FCO40-2659-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-China-1989 — Page 86

SINO-UK RELATIONS

IN CONFIDENCE

BACKGROUND

1.

There are no major bilateral problems between China

and the UK. A series of high-level visits, including the

Queen's visit to China in October 1986 and the then

Foreign Minister Wu Xueqian's visit in March last year

have shown that Sino-UK relations are excellent. A

number of UK Ministers visited China in 1988, including

Lord Glenarthur, Mr Patten (ODA) and, most recently,

Mr Ridley (Environment). Several Ministerial visits are

planned for 1989, and the year is due to end on a high

note with the visit of TRH The Prince and Princess of

Wales in November.

2. Both sides are keen to develop their relationship

further by working on two-way trade and commercial links,

through political, educational and cultural links and by

continuing their active programme of bilateral visits.

3.

There are two areas in particular, both part of

China's extensive reform programme, on which the UK and

China are to work together closely. The first is the

Civil Service. The Chinese are working on establishing a

better-structured, accountable Civil Service and they

have already sent several delegations to the UK to look

at our methods. It is hoped that their Minister of

Personnel will attend a conference on Sino-UK Civil

Service cooperation in London this summer. The Chinese

clearly regard the UK as a useful model.

4.

The second area is the reform of the Chinese legal

JS 2AAX

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IN CONFIDENCE