Tao were present. We gave
them details of what we had done on
the understanding they withheld publication until our return.
Ib bed quite late after an exhilarating day. Usual early call booked.
Thursday 8th May
Early wakening
-
again!! Typed up notes of yesterday's meetings. In bath when alarm went. Dripped to turn off. Back in bath when telephone went for early call phones working !! Dripped back to telephone again. Carpet now very damp. Breakfast in Coffee Shop. Off at 8.00 a.m. to Tiananmen Square. First stop Mao's Mausoleum where the magic card appeared and the crowds were held back to allow the AECS to jump the queue. Mao's body looks very wax-like. Judging by the numbers who file past each day the visit to the Mausoleum is an essential part of any visit to Beijing.
Taken then to the Great Hall the size of the meeting hall Bought our note books
books and purchases for us which was involved.
City.
of the People.
Banquet rooms chop sticks. just as well as
Very impressive
Regional rooms, Mr.
Chiu did our there were
crowds
Off to the Forbidden
Being preserved well. Crowds interesting. Factory tours individuals bunch of lady cleaners. Workers refurbishing old masonary. Signs explaining features all in Chinese Characters - English explanations in writing would help tourists Mr Wang very knowledgeable and helpful!
-
Interesting business lunch
lunch with ACFTU. Officials with good knowledge of English present although Mr Chiu was obviously being tested and did not eat much
lunch as all talk was in fact translated.
Phone call to British Embassy. and Mr Blunt to give us dinner (The 'Dinner' still worries
Back to Hotel for a short rest. Seeing Ambassador after Mr Ji avoiding the dancers and acrobats. me!!).
All in our best 'bibs and tuckers' for the formal event with JI Peng-fei the State Councillor and Head of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office in the Jiangsu Hall of the Great Hall of the People.
Met at door by officials and then ushered into Hall where Mr JI, Mr LU, Mrs MO, Mr WANG Ji-yu and an
army of TV, press, note takers and translators were waiting. Pleased to see the excellent girl interpreter was to do the work.
Usual hand shaking - formal photographs standing up sitting down in the usual U shape.
-
then
6