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07 JUN '91 11:40
P.12
Q:
A:
Q:
upon earlier in our discussions. But undoubtedly the major issue in our relationship with China at the moment
is Hong Kong.
Now we are stuck at the moment over the question of the airport but we are still in negotiation with China. But there is no doubt that China wants good relations with Britain and we want to take them right
back to where they were before Tiananmen Square. That is good for China, it is good for Britain and it is very good for Hong Kong. So we will continue to work at our relationship with China. Don't let's drag China into being isolationist again. Let's work at it. You don't always achieve what you want the first time you talk to somebody. You've got to work at it, you've got to persevere and so we shall because that is what is good for Hong Kong as well.
Is the Prime Minister personally getting involved in any of this at all. There has been a report saying the Prime Minister is getting involved in the airport
project?
Of course he is, he used to be Foreign Secretary. He knew about it, he was responsible.
Only for 3 months though?
A:
It doesn't matter.
I
In 3 months he did an awful lot.
That was a force of circumstances that transferred him
from here to the Treasury. But of course the
Prime Minister involves himself so did the previous Prime Minister. And so he should be.
Q: Do you understand that he's making personal appeals or
people?
A:
He is certainly very au fait with what is going on and of course he is in touch with all the leaders of the other major countries and so he should be.
That is the
}