CONFIDENTIAL
DSR 11C
9. The trade brief will be the most important non-Hong
Kong brief, aimed solely at achieving the objective
outlined in para 4(iii) above. We envisage that it would
contain the following main elements:
i) eagerness to explore all new opportunities to
increase trade with China, including trade involving Hong
Kong.
The Prime Minister could refer to the momentum
generated by the Hong Kong agreement and the intrinsic
scope for more trade. Points to cover include the match
between Chinese economic priorities (energy, transport,
communications, natural resources, agriculture) and
British expertise; and emphasis on quality (a British
strong point) as being as important as price (on which
the Chinese have sometimes criticised us);
ii) a proposal for a major commercial visit in early
1985 by a delegation of senior British businessmen, led
perhaps by a Minister, to pursue opportunities in
specific projects and sectors; the need for careful
preparation;
iii) brief discussions of specific projects and areas.
The Prime Minister will wish to mention the Guangdong
Nuclear Project.
(The situation on this is developing
rapidly and the right points to take up during the visit
will not be clear until shortly before the Prime Minister
departs. We therefore envisage that briefing be in the
form of a separate self-contained Annex to the main trade
The DTI will identify other suitable projects.
brief).
CONFIDENTIAL