TNAG-2590-FCO40-3778-Internal-security-in-Hong-Kong-1992 — Page 4

1

G.F. 316

SECRET 高度機密

PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES

4.

We are now well into the second half of the transition

period between the signing of the Sino-British Joint Declaration

in 1984 and the reversion of sovereignty over Hong Kong to China

in 1997.

The CCP, China and China Relations

5.

China

continues to assert herself vigorously over Hong

Kong issues.

The outpouring of public sympathy in the

Territory following the clearance by force of pro-democracy

demonstrators from Tienanmen Square in June 1989 led to a

hardening of Chinese attitudes towards Hong Kong and, three

years on, public statements by

senior Chinese officials over

Hong Kong issues indicate that this hard line persists. The effects are seen most notably in the tortuously slow progress of Sino-British Joint Liaison Group negotiations and in the current

extended wrangling over the financing of the new airport and related projects.

Suspicions of British intentions over the

handover in general and

particular remain well

leaders.

over Hong Kong's economic reserves in

entrenched in the minds of Peking's

6.

We

believe that China's priority regarding Hong Kong

is to achieve sovereignty on her terms. To this end she will

continue to oppose any move towards further democracy or any development she perceives as designed to strengthen British

influence after 1997 or to weaken China's future control of the

SAR Government and its decision-making processes. Peking has

let it be known that China would intervene to take over Hong

Kong before 1997 in the event that Hong Kong were plunged into

prolonged chaos which the Hong Kong authorities could not

control. We do not believe that the present Chinese leadership would deliberately instigate unrest in Hong Kong. In fact, we believe, they would do everything to avoid this and, in the

event of an incident of public disorder, would seek to exercise

SECRET 高度機密