Comrade Deng Xiaoping
What exactly did Vice Chairman Geng Biao say? What kind of words could make Comrade Xiaoping furious?
The matter starts with an incident that was fiercely debated between China and Britain during the negotiations on the Hong Kong issue.
The British side made strong arguments: There is no need for China to station troops in Hong Kong.
On September 26, 1984, China and the UK initialed a joint statement on the Hong Kong issue. By this time, after 22 rounds of consultations and two years of negotiations, they finally had a satisfactory result.
As everyone knows, just before the initial signing of the "Joint Declaration", China and Britain were still arguing fiercely over an issue. The British side made strong arguments, while the Chinese side stuck to the bottom line and refused to give in.
The question is whether the Chinese People's Liberation Army should station troops in Hong Kong?
China believes that the Chinese People's Liberation Army must garrison troops in Hong Kong. The reason is that the garrison is a symbol of national sovereignty. Since China wants to take back the sovereignty of Hong Kong, the People's Liberation Army must of course garrison Hong Kong. This is a matter of course.
However, the British side is very sensitive to this issue and uses various excuses to obstruct our garrison in Hong Kong.
However, the excuses they can find are very limited, and their arguments are also very funny.
For example, the British negotiator said to Zhou Nan, the head of the Chinese government delegation: "Have you ever considered this issue? If you station troops in Hong Kong, Hong Kong citizens will be afraid."
Zhou Nan said: "The Chinese People's Liberation Army is the army of the people's sons. , How can the citizens of Hong Kong be afraid of their own soldiers? What a big joke!"
The British negotiator also said: "If you station troops in Hong Kong, it will inevitably cause a large number of Hong Kong citizens to leave Hong Kong and immigrate to the United Kingdom and other countries. "
Zhou Nan. Said: "Why do you draw such a conclusion? What is the basis?"
The British representative could not provide a convincing basis for a while, so he had to say arrogantly: "Hong Kong is not far from Shenzhen and Guangzhou. It is enough for your troops to be stationed there. There is no need to be stationed in Hong Kong."
Zhou Nan asked back: "Whether we should garrison troops and where to garrison them are all our own affairs and should be decided by ourselves."
Zhou Nan finally made it clear to the British side: "This issue has been discussed many times. Your reasons for opposing our garrison are untenable and unreasonable."
"We are responsible for the defense of Hong Kong. The garrison will be conducive to Hong Kong's prosperity and stability. Regardless of whether you agree or not, we will not give in on this issue."
Zhou Nan hopes that the British side will adopt a "pragmatic and cooperative" attitude and stop wasting their efforts and making unreasonable troubles on this matter.
China's attitude on this matter was extremely firm and did not give the British side any chance to bargain. This frustrated the British negotiators and therefore lost the confidence to continue the debate.
At this time, an unexpected thing happened. This incident made the Chinese side passive for a while, but made the British side overjoyed and seemed to see hope again.
Geng Biao
Female reporter "chased and intercepted", Vice Chairman Geng Biao was overwhelmed by the harassment, and accidentally "trouble came out of his mouth".
In May 1984, the "Second Session of the National People's Congress" was held in Beijing. Reporters from major media around the world gathered in Beijing to follow and report on the conference news.
This is the most sensitive period for Sino-British negotiations on the Hong Kong issue, and it is also the period when Hong Kong media reporters are most active.
According to Zhou Nan's recollection, "Some major media in Hong Kong sent some girls to be reporters. These girls are very difficult to deal with, and some of them are ordered to 'find out'."
What are you trying to find out?
What is the Chinese government’s attitude towards the Hong Kong issue? Where is China's "bottom line"? This is the "bottom" those Hong Kong reporters want to get to know.
In order to catch first-hand news, Hong Kong reporters seize every possible opportunity. As long as they focus on the interviewees they are interested in, they will pursue them and ask questions.
Most of the questions they asked were very sensitive. It can be said that the more sensitive the question, the greater the "intensity" of their questioning.
May 25 is the closing day of the conference. Before 8 o'clock in the morning, Geng Biao, vice chairman of the National People's Congress , arrived at the Great Hall of the People on time.
As soon as he got off the bus, Vice Chairman Geng Biao was "chased and intercepted" by a group of reporters from Hong Kong and Macao.
Guard staff officer Shi Quanbo went to the Great Hall of the People with Geng Biao. Seeing Vice Chairman Geng Biao being surrounded, Shi Quanbo stepped forward quickly, trying to clear a way to escort Vice Chairman Geng Biao into the Great Hall of the People.
However, these Hong Kong and Macao reporters formed a "human wall" and blocked Shi Quanbo and Vice Chairman Geng Biao.
Shi Quanbo was anxious. In order to ensure the safety of Vice Chairman Geng Biao, he must take decisive measures to ensure the safety of Vice Chairman Geng Biao.
Shi Quanbo protected Vice Chairman Geng Biao while pushing through the crowd.
Shi Quanbo was tall, powerful, well-trained and experienced, so the "human wall" was quickly broken through by Shi Quanbo.
Because they were still some distance away from the Great Hall of the People, the reporters did not give up their last chance. They "fight while retreating." They thrust three or four microphones in front of Geng Biao and asked tricky questions one after another.
A Hong Kong female reporter asked Vice Chairman Geng Biao: "As far as I know, Hong Kong citizens have concerns about the garrison issue. Does the central government have to station troops in Hong Kong?"
Vice Chairman Geng Biao walked forward while symbolically speaking. After a few words, when he heard the female reporter's question, Vice Chairman Geng Biao did not think much and replied casually: "We may not necessarily station troops in Hong Kong."
It was "possible" and "not necessarily". It can be seen that Vice Chairman Geng Biao's answer was very vague.
Unexpectedly, this sentence made the female reporter feel like a treasure, and she immediately stared at this sentence and wanted to continue questioning.
Fortunately, Shi Quanbo stopped the female reporter in time. He kept saying, "The chief is not accepting interviews now, and he will not be interviewed today." He struggled to leave the reporter and escorted Geng Biao into the Great Hall of the People.
Anyone with a discerning eye can see that Geng Biao’s words are “informal.” However, the media with ulterior motives have made a big fuss out of this.
Vice Chairman Geng Biao did not expect that his vague words would actually cause huge waves in Hong Kong.
A few hours later, Geng Biao's name appeared on the front pages of several major media outlets in Hong Kong. They published a message in large letters with the headline:
"Latest news from Beijing, Vice Chairman Geng Biao (former Minister of National Defense) announced Kai said that after Hong Kong's restoration, the central government will not send troops to Hong Kong. "
Many newspapers also commented: "A Chinese leader said that there is no need to garrison troops in Hong Kong," "China has hesitated on garrisoning troops," "China has made concessions on the issue of garrisoning troops," and so on.
Comrade Deng Xiaoping
Deng Xiaoping "refuted rumors" - "What Geng Biao said is nonsense, please refute the rumors for me."
After the morning meeting, Vice Chairman Geng Biao drove to Wanshou Hotel . According to the predetermined plan, he will meet with foreign guests here and accompany them to dine together.
As soon as Geng Biao's car arrived at the Wanshou Hotel, Chairman Peng Zhen called Geng Biao and asked him to "put down whatever he was doing" and rush back to the Great Hall of the People immediately.
At the southwest gate of the Great Hall of the People, Geng Biao met Chairman Peng Zhen with a stern expression.
Chairman Peng Zhen asked Geng Biao: "Have you been interviewed by reporters? What did you tell reporters?"
Geng Biao said: "I did not attend the press conference."
"Think again," Chairman Peng Zhen said, "what you said to reporters was published in Hong Kong newspapers. The Hong Kong media hyped the matter up in newspapers and on TV and made a huge fuss."
Immediately afterwards, Chairman Peng Zhen told Geng Biao one by one the titles and main contents of Hong Kong newspapers.
Geng Biao frankly admitted that he did say a few words when he was "chased and intercepted" by Hong Kong and Macao reporters.
Geng Biao couldn't help but take a breath of air, and suddenly had an ominous premonition.
Sure enough, Chairman Peng Zhen’s words later confirmed Geng Biao’s hunch. Chairman Peng Zhen told Geng Biao, “Your remarks on the garrison in Hong Kong are ‘out of line’, and Comrade Xiaoping is angry.”
Chairman Peng Zhen told Geng Biao that after the Hong Kong newspaper published the "news", Comrade Xiaoping quickly learned the full content of the news.
Comrade Xiaoping was very angry at the time. A leader in charge of Hong Kong affairs interjected: "Vice Chairman Huang Hua also said this."
Deng Xiaoping was furious and said: "Nonsense, what right do they have to say this? It's unreasonable!"
Later, while meeting with representatives and members of Hong Kong and Macao attending the Two Sessions , Comrade Xiaoping suddenly said to the media reporters who were about to leave after taking photos: "Wait a minute, I have something else to say."
Comrade Xiaoping said: "Go back and refute a rumor for me. The so-called 'no troops will be stationed in Hong Kong in the future' is not the central government's opinion."
Comrade Xiaoping said word for word: "Since Hong Kong is China's territory, why can't we station troops? Without the right to station troops, what else is there? What is China's territory!"
Chairman Peng Zhen finally said to Geng Biao: "You have to take this matter seriously and don't arrange other work in the past few days."
Zhou Nan
The British side took advantage of the situation, but Zhou Nan refused to give in.
Early the next morning, major media in Hong Kong published Comrade Xiaoping's "rumor-refuting" speech. The major newspapers added a particularly eye-catching title to the news - Deng Xiaoping announced the garrison of troops in Hong Kong.
Seeing such news, Zhou Nan's heart that had been hanging around finally fell to the ground.
Unexpectedly, as soon as Zhou Nan arrived at the office, a call came in from the British Ambassador to China Evans .
Evans requested an urgent appointment, saying that "under the orders of the British government", he had important matters to interview with Zhou Nan.
Zhou Nan guessed that Evans's eagerness to interview him must be related to the incident reported by the Hong Kong media.
Sure enough, this is what Evans wants to talk about.
Zhou Nan later wrote in his memoirs, "Ivens was very nervous at the time and could not speak clearly."
Ivens said: "I heard that Mr. Deng Xiaoping got angry in the Great Hall of the People yesterday, and we are very concerned about this."
Evans tentatively said to Zhou Nan: "We are worried that this issue will have a bad impact and may lead to adverse consequences. We hope that China will carefully consider the issue of garrisoning troops in Hong Kong again."
Zhou Nan said: "Isn't this issue already made very clear? When China resumes the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong, it must station troops in Hong Kong. This is our final attitude. "
Evans said awkwardly: "I am also acting under orders. The country requires me to express our attitude. I hope you can understand. "
Zhou Nan said: "You can reply to them like this. China's position on the military garrison issue will not change. There is no room for negotiation on this matter. "
After returning to the embassy, Evans sent Zhou Nan's words back to the UK exactly as they were. From then on, the British government never mentioned this matter again.
In fact, Comrade Xiaoping’s attitude towards the issue of garrisoning troops has always been very firm.
Comrade Xiaoping said two famous words, which are:
"We must insist on garrisoning troops and must not give in";
"The garrison in Hong Kong still has a role, but it can To prevent unrest. Those who want to cause unrest will have to think about it if they know that there is a Chinese army in Hong Kong. Even if unrest occurs, they will be able to solve it in time. "
黄华
Vice Chairman Huang Hua "is innocently lying", Comrade Xiaoping: I have wronged him.
In this incident, Vice Chairman Huang Hua was one of the “innocent people” who were wrongly accused.
When Comrade Xiaoping "got angry" in the Great Hall of the People, Vice Chairman Huang Hua's secretary happened to be at the scene.
Afterwards, the secretary immediately told Vice Chairman Huang Hua about the incident.
That evening, Vice Chairman Huang Hua called Comrade Xiaoping’s secretary, Comrade Wang Ruilin, and asked him to report to Comrade Xiaoping, "I guarantee with my party spirit that I have never said anything similar."
Vice Chairman Huang Hua said: "On September 24, 1982, I accompanied Comrade Xiaoping to meet with British Prime Minister Mrs. Thatcher, and witnessed with my own eyes the uncompromising and tit-for-tat conversation between Comrade Xiaoping and Mrs. Thatcher."
Comrade Xiaoping met with Mrs. Thatcher
Vice Chairman Huang Hua said: "I was still Foreign Minister at the time. I was very aware of Comrade Xiaoping's attitude towards the Hong Kong issue. How could I make such a big move on such a major matter as garrisoning troops? "What about his position?"
Fortunately, Comrade Xiaoping soon learned the truth. The next day, when he met with Mr. Pao Yukang, the Hong Kong shipping king, Comrade Xiaoping said: "Comrade Huang Hua is innocent on the matter of ' Hong Kong will not station troops after its return to .' It was me who wrongly blamed Comrade Huang Hua."
After the interview, Mr. Bao Yugang conveyed Comrade Xiaoping’s original words to Vice Chairman Huang Hua.
Let’s talk about Vice Chairman Geng Biao, who has no intention of causing trouble but “trouble comes from his mouth”.
After the incident, Vice Chairman Geng Biao carefully recalled the situation that day, and then wrote a sincere inspection letter.
He sincerely expressed his understanding of this matter in the inspection book: "Comrade Xiaoping's criticism of me is correct and necessary..."
Comrade Xiaoping called for a meeting a few days later. At a meeting he held, he said: "This matter has passed and we don't need to mention it again in the future."
Conclusion
In October 1992, General Liu Huaqing submitted a "Plan for the People's Liberation Army to take over the defense of Hong Kong" to Comrade Xiaoping.
After reading this plan, Comrade Xiaoping was obviously not satisfied. On the last page of the plan, Comrade Xiaoping wrote two big words: Soft. What does
mean?
Comrade Xiaoping felt that the People's Liberation Army should not only consider the method of "peacefully taking over Hong Kong", but also prepare the method of "taking over Hong Kong by force";
Hong Kong must return to China on July 1, 1997. No matter what happens (such as the British delaying time or refusing to cooperate), the People's Liberation Army must enter Hong Kong on time, and every second must be accurate.
It can be said that on the matter of Hong Kong's return, Comrade Xiaoping maintained his behavior characteristics of "lifting the big and letting go of the small".
What's the big deal? Things related to national sovereignty and national security are major matters.
On this type of matter, Comrade Xiaoping saw clearly and spoke categorically without any ambiguity!
People's Liberation Army Garrison in Hong Kong
Comrade Xiaoping told Huang Hua his two wishes in his later years. One is to want to see Tibet. He said: "Even if it is just to go to Lhasa Airport, step on the land of Tibet and return."
Comrade Xiaoping said: "The doctors and the central government firmly refused to let me go, saying that it would be very dangerous for me, so I had to accept my fate."
Comrade Xiaoping also said: "The one place I still want to go to is Hong Kong. These are the only two wishes I have in my personal life. "
Huang Hua said: "There is no problem with the second wish. "
Comrade Xiaoping said: "Who knows. "
The PLA Hong Kong Garrison held a flag-raising ceremony
Regrettably, Comrade Xiaoping died of illness in Beijing on February 19, 1997. He could not wait until the day when Hong Kong returned to China, let alone "walk and take a look" on the land of Hong Kong.
Today's Hong Kong economy is gradually recovering. After that turmoil, with the official implementation of the "National Security Law" in Hong Kong, Hong Kong's social order has become more and more stable.
Over time, Hong Kong will have broader space for development, and Hong Kong's future will be better.
Rest in peace, Comrade Xiaoping!
