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We
men who had gone through so much to seize and keep power in China were never going to let a group of students overthrow them, and would do whatever was necessary to keep themselves in power. were in for a difficult period over the next few years. But once they had died off, a younger group would come to the top, and they would demand changes. He did not think that Li Peng would last. But economic reform was irreversible. The Prime Minister said that we had heard that the former Mayor of Tientsin, Yang Rui Huan, was a coming man. Pehaps we ought to invite him to the UK. Mr. Goh said that it was indeed very important to re-establish high level contact with the Chinese Government, and persuade their leaders to travel and expose them to outside influences.
The Prime Minister said that Hong Kong faced continuing problems over the Vietnamese boat people, and would hope for support from Singapore for whatever action we felt it necessary to take. Mr. Goh said that what Britain was doing on compulsory repatriation was absolutely right. We should not allow the Vietnamese Government to blackmail us into making any concessions.
I am sending copies of this letter to Simon Webb (Ministry of Defence) and Sonia Phippard (Cabinet Office).
Simon Gass, Esq.,
Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
CONFIDENTIAL
yen
micron.
C.D. POWELL
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