TNAG-2487-FCO40-3618-Future-relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-China-1992 — Page 71

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negotiations have been structured or organised give rise to

problems? For example, what significance should be attached to

the absence of Hong Kong representation in the negotiations? (3)

Does the relatively low significance accorded to the negotiating

bodies in the political hierarchies of each side contribute to

the difficulties? The article will conclude with a consideration

of the remaining key problems and a view of the prospects ahead.

The Problem of Perceptions

Much is known about Chinese Communist perceptions of the

West in general and of the United States and Japan in

particular.2 Chinese perceptions of West European countries have

received less attention. In the absence of a systematic account

of Chinese views of Britain

Britain (and vice versa) the following

observations would seem to hold true:

1) As the oldest surviving imperialist power, Britain is

credited with considerable cunning and acumen. In popular folk

lore Britain is depicted as a two-headed snake. China's leaders

regard it as having managed its relative decline fairly well.

Although Suez was regarded as a blunder, Mao Zedong's comment at

the time is highly instructive of underlying attitudes: "The

2See the pioneering study by David Shambaugh, Beautiful Imperialist: China Perceives America, 1972-1990.

1972-1990. [Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1991]. See also Allen S. Whiting, China Eyes Japan. [Berkeley: University of California Press, 1989].