CONFIDENTIAL
DRAFT NOTES OF MEETING OF WHITEHALL POLICY TEAM ON GUANGDONG HELD ON 23 JULY 1980 AT ASHDOWN HOUSE
Present: Mr A G Manzie
Miss B Parkin
Mr P Morrice Mr Fersland
Mr M Roberts Mr G Field Mr C Benjamin Mr R Mathrani Mr R A Brown
Mr N R Brice
in the Chair
Department of Energy
HKG/FCO
FED/FCO
JNU/FCO ECGD
The meeting was convened to decide on what briefing would be needed
for the forthcoming visit to Sir Lawrence Kadoorie. In addition to
the paper circulated prior to the meeting, also under consideration
were BTC telegrams nos, 99, 100 and 101.
Mr Manzie opened the meeting by saying that the project seemed to be
accelerating, and he was afraid lest HMG lose the initiative. There
were dangers in going foreard, but even greater political dangers in
withdrawing, upsetting both the PRC and also CLP. He was aware that
so far we had only had CLP's interpretation of the Chinese views.
Both HKG and FED considered that Sir Lawrence Kaddorie was attaching
too much political significance to the project in terms of Hong Kong/
PRC relations and the expiring of the Lease. Nevertheless, it was
a major project with considerable political and commercial significance.
In order to be able to brief Ministers for Lawrence Kadoorie's visit
it was agreed that we needed the immediate views of HM Ambassador in
Peling on how the Chinese viewed the project, from both a commercial
and political point of view. It was also important at this stage
to avoid giving the Chinese the impression that we were questioning