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(b)
(c)
Mr Lloyd urged, as an additional measure, a concerted move with the US and others to suspend trade with China in high-tech fields. One of the students expressed dismay at British bodies, including the 48 Group and the Sino-British Trade Council, being duped into helping the Chinese propaganda campaign. You explained that we shared this concern and were doing all we could to make such bodies aware of this danger. Mr Lloyd accepted that we could not go so far as stopping independent bodies from continuing their activities with China. In response to a question, you explained that the SBTC had postponed their decision on whether to hold their planned trade fair in Peking in November; we would be feeding in our own views to the SBTC when the time came for them to decide.
Chinese students in the UK. Mr Lloyd expressed gratitude for the six month extension of visas for students who wished to remain in the UK. But he hoped that the FCO and/or the Home Office could help make financial provisions to enable the students to continue their studies. Lord Glenarthur confined himself to registering this as a worry.
Mr Lloyd said he hoped that the six month extension was not a cut-off date, and that students in this country would never become part of a bargaining position vis à vis the Chinese. Lord Glenarthur reassured him on both counts.
Asylum seekers, both in the UK and any reaching our Embassy in Peking. This was not further discussed.
4. Concluding the meeting, Mr Lloyd said he was concerned that memories faded fast. He hoped that the pressure on China would be kept up.
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Jobert Cowt
Robert Court
PS/Lord Glenarthur