Chapter 22 British "Iron Lady" meets Chinese "steel company"——Deng Xiaoping and Thatcherf (2)

Mao Zedong pointed to Deng Xiaoping and said to British Prime Minister Heath: "The remaining Hong Kong issue, we will not discuss it now. It is their business." The decision to let Deng Xiaoping, who "falls three times and rises three times", come back for the third time was made at the Third Plenary Session of the Tenth Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in 1977.This time Deng Xiaoping resumed his posts as Vice Chairman of the CPC Central Committee, Vice Premier of the State Council, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission and Chief of General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.But what no one expected was that Deng Xiaoping's appearance this time was very different from the previous ones.This time he appeared in front of the world as a spectator of a football match, and he has a predestined relationship with Hong Kong.

On July 30, 1977, the Beijing Workers' Stadium, which can accommodate 80,000 people, was packed. The first international football invitational tournament held in China after the "Cultural Revolution" was held here.Today is the Hong Kong representative team playing the game, which is also the first time for Chinese fans.When Deng Xiaoping appeared on the rostrum, the stadium suddenly became a sea of ​​joy, and 80,000 spectators stood up and applauded for more than 10 minutes.Deng Xiaoping is back!Perhaps Deng Xiaoping chose to appear in the Hong Kong football team for no particular reason, but Deng Xiaoping, who had set foot on Hong Kong soil five times when he was young, can be said to never forget Hong Kong's return to the motherland.During those five times, Deng Xiaoping passed by mostly for the sake of the revolution, risking his life.

In the course of the Chinese revolution, apart from the Zunyi Conference, I am afraid that there is no conference that has decisive significance for a major turning point in China's future and destiny like the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Communist Party of China held in December 1978.Some people say that this marks the beginning of the "Deng Xiaoping Era". That's right! The 75-year-old Deng Xiaoping called New Year's Day in 1979 "an extraordinary day", and he also summarized it into three characteristics: first, the focus of national work has shifted to the four modernizations; second, Sino-US relations The normalization has been realized; the third is that the resolution of the Taiwan issue and the completion of the great cause of the reunification of the motherland have been put on the specific agenda.On this day, at the behest of Deng Xiaoping, the "Message of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress to Compatriots in Taiwan" was also published.Immediately afterwards, 20 days later, Deng Xiaoping chose to visit the United States on the first day of the Lunar New Year.All this shows that China has started to solve the Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau issues.

As early as 1978, according to Deng Xiaoping's instructions, the central government established the Hong Kong and Macao Leading Group, and at the same time set up the Hong Kong and Macao Office of the State Council to directly manage Hong Kong and Macao affairs, with Liao Chengzhi as the director of the Hong Kong and Macao Office. And Deng Xiaoping was one of China's main negotiators and decision makers on the Hong Kong issue as early as the "Mao Zedong Era", and had close contacts with British leaders very early. This also has to talk about the former British Prime Minister Heath.Heath is the leader of the British Conservative Party. He became the British Prime Minister in 1970. After 1974, he visited China many times. He had contact with Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Deng Xiaoping and other Chinese leaders.China and the UK established diplomatic relations at the chargé d'affaires level in June 1954. During Heath's tenure as prime minister in 1972, the diplomatic relations were upgraded to the ambassadorial level.After he left office, he continued to work hard to further improve Sino-British relations, especially in the process of Sino-British negotiations to resolve the Hong Kong issue, shuttled between the two countries, did a lot of work, and contributed to the settlement of the Hong Kong issue.

During a meeting, Deng Xiaoping chatted with Heath and said: "We have met a lot, not only have the same views on many issues, but also athletes." Heath smiled and replied: "That's right." Then Deng Xiaoping added He said: "One is a sports player, and the other loves to play bridge." It can be seen how close their relationship is. Deng Xiaoping and Heath met for the first time in Mao Zedong's study in Zhongnanhai.The date is May 25, 1974.Deng Xiaoping, Zhou Enlai and others accompanied Mao Zedong to meet with the visiting British Prime Minister Heath.In this meeting, the leaders finally talked about the Hong Kong issue.

Mao Zedong said: "There is one Hong Kong issue left, and we will not talk about it now." After speaking, Mao Zedong turned around and asked Zhou Enlai who was sitting beside him: "How much time is left?" Zhou Enlai replied quickly and accurately: "...it was leased to them in 1898 for a period of 99 years. It will expire in 1997, and there are still 24 years left." "What to do at that time, let's discuss it." Mao Zedong said while waving his hand, pointing to Deng Xiaoping and others sitting not far away, and said: "It's their business."

Eight years later, on April 6, 1982, Heath revisited China specifically for the Hong Kong issue.At this time Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai had both passed away.As the core figure of the second generation leadership of the Communist Party of China, Deng Xiaoping met with him.This time, Heath came to China as a private envoy. Before the British government was about to discuss with the Chinese government about resolving the Hong Kong issue, he wanted to get a feel for China's bottom line. During the meeting, Heath recalled the meeting with Mao Zedong in May 1974, and said to Deng Xiaoping: "You were also present at that time, when Chairman Mao and Premier Zhou said that it would be 1997 anyway, it was still early, and young people should go to the meeting. Come on. It's only 15 years until 1997, how do you think about dealing with this in the interim."

Time is running out.This time Heath was a little anxious.In fact, what is more anxious than Heath is the British government and people from all walks of life in the UK, including people from all walks of life in Hong Kong.Because international investment requires 15 years of stability.The future of Hong Kong is uncertain, and they are anxious about whether to continue investing in Hong Kong.What is China's attitude on the Hong Kong issue and whether the Hong Kong issue can be resolved well are the most critical and decisive factors.For investors, this concern is understandable. As a friend, Deng Xiaoping told him very frankly: "We have been old friends for many years. The sovereignty of Hong Kong belongs to China, and the New Territories, including the whole of Hong Kong, used to be unequal treaties. In fact, it is a matter of abolition. Like China If Hong Kong's sovereignty is not taken back by then, we leaders will not be able to pay our bills."

When talking about investment issues, Deng Xiaoping made it clear that China would maintain Hong Kong's status as a free port and an international financial center, and would not affect foreign investment there. On this premise, Hong Kong people would manage Hong Kong. In fact, Deng Xiaoping's attitude had been clearly expressed three years ago. It was on the morning of March 29, 1979, when Deng Xiaoping met with MacLehose, the 25th Governor of Hong Kong, in the Xinjiang Hall of the Great Hall of the People.MacLehose is visiting China at the invitation of Li Qiang, Minister of Foreign Trade of China. This is also the first Hong Kong governor to visit mainland China.It can be seen that his mission is mysterious and important.

As a professional diplomat, MacLehose is very familiar with China.The British government attached great importance to this visit, and the Foreign Ministry conducted a special study, entrusting him with a special task: to test the attitude of Chinese leaders on the issue of Hong Kong's ownership in 1997.From March 24th to 28th, when MacLehose held talks with relevant leaders in Guangzhou and Beijing, he kept releasing his tentative "balloons" --- According to the "Special Articles on Expanding Hong Kong's Boundary Site", the British Lease The 99 years of Hong Kong's New Territories will expire in 1997, and Britain hopes that China will continue the concession after 1997.

When meeting with Deng Xiaoping on the 29th, MacLehose seized the opportunity and must discuss the issue thoroughly. So as soon as he sat down, he went straight to the topic and asked Deng Xiaoping: "It is only 18 years from 1997. I am worried about this issue. As the Governor of Hong Kong, I would like to know the attitude of the Chinese government and Your Excellency on this issue." Deng Xiaoping made no secrets, and replied quickly: "I know that people are beginning to worry about Hong Kong's future and status. We have a consistent position on this issue. You gentlemen here are very clear that we have always believed that Hong Kong's sovereignty belongs to the People's Republic of China, but Hong Kong has its special status. Hong Kong is part of China, and this issue itself cannot be discussed. But one thing is certain, even when this issue is resolved by then, we will respect Hong Kong's special status. Now people The concern is whether the continued investment is reliable. The Chinese government can clearly tell you this, and tell the British government that even if some kind of political settlement is made at that time, it will not harm the interests of the continued investors. Please rest assured investors.” But what measures or policies does the Chinese government take to reassure investors? Deng Xiaoping went on to say: "We treat Hong Kong as a special region and a special problem. This is a long-term policy. Even in 1997, no matter how it is done specifically or how it is resolved politically, this policy will not change. No matter what happens in Hong Kong in the future No matter how the political status is resolved, Hong Kong’s special status can be guaranteed. The position of the Chinese government will not affect their investment interests. To be clear, for a long period of time in this century and the beginning of the next century, Hong Kong can still develop its capital We practice our socialism. Even if the political status of Hong Kong changes in 1997, it will not affect their investment interests.” This is the first time a British person has heard that China's top leader has used the "one country, two systems" approach to resolve the Hong Kong issue.MacLehose finally returned to England with his "reassurance". In July 1979, the British ambassador to China, Colliday, submitted a "Memorandum on Land Leases in the New Territories of Hong Kong" to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressing his hope that the Chinese government would cancel two restrictions—that is, the cancellation of land leases in the New Territories could not exceed 1997. Restrictions and Removal After 1997, the Governor of Hong Kong could no longer legally manage the restrictions in the New Territories.After the two memorandums were clearly rejected by the Chinese government, in less than two years, the United Kingdom frequently sent dignitaries to visit China, including former Prime Minister Callaghan, Foreign Secretary Carrington, and Lord Seal Adkin. Sri Lanka and the British Parliamentary delegation.They are nothing more than expressing one meaning urgently: the British government is anxious about the future of Hong Kong, and hopes that China can take the initiative to propose a way to maintain the status quo of Hong Kong.To put it bluntly, the British are unwilling to give up Hong Kong, hoping to gain the right to govern Hong Kong forever.But no matter who comes, the Chinese leader has only one sentence: Please rest assured!At the same time, at the behest of Deng Xiaoping, the Chinese government came up with a relatively complete and feasible set of 12 principles and policies embodying the principle of "one country, two systems" to solve the Hong Kong issue in March 1982. Strong response.These policies were formed after Deng Xiaoping consulted with many people in Hong Kong. This time, former Prime Minister Heath was entrusted by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to inquire about the attitude of the Chinese government in order to further understand China's policies on the Hong Kong issue. In this context, Deng Xiaoping once again reiterated China's position to Heath, and he was already well-informed. He said: "Now the time is ripe to solve the Hong Kong issue. The Chinese government has determined the principles and policies for solving the Hong Kong issue. These policies It is basically consistent with the spirit of China's nine-point policy toward Taiwan, and we will resolve the Hong Kong issue according to this line of thinking." When Heath heard Deng Xiaoping's affirmation, he was shocked and hurriedly asked: "Mr. Deng, I personally believe your words, but Hong Kong people hope to see something more specific, such as the agreement between China and Britain." Deng Xiaoping said without hesitation: "If possible, we are willing to formally contact the British government to resolve the Hong Kong issue through negotiations." Heath's visit this time is truly a fulfilling mission. May 1982.After the term of Governor of Hong Kong MacLehose expires, Sir Tunyoud of China, who has served in the embassy in China four times and is proficient in Chinese, will take over as Governor of Hong Kong.As soon as Youde took office, he shuttled between Beijing and London to prepare for the highest-level negotiations between China and Britain. In the end, the two sides finally decided that in September 1982, Mrs Thatcher would go to Beijing to meet with Deng Xiaoping. Britain's "Iron Lady" is about to shake hands with China's "Steel Company", as if a good show is about to start, the whole world's eyes are wide open.