RESTRICTED
0/2256 MDLIAN 215
ABOUT THE REQUIREMENTS OF A MORE FORMAL POST IN LONDON. BOTH MME ZHANG AND I TRIED TO REASSURE HER A LITTLE ON THAT SCORE. THE MA'S HAVE TWO STUDENT AGED CHILDREN. THE SON IS STUDYING ENGINEERING AT A NOT VERY FAMOUS UNIVERSITY IN PEKING. NEITHER CHILD LOOKS LIKE HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT THEM IN LONDON.
5.
AMBASSADOR MA ASKED TWO SPECIFIC QUESTIONS:
(A) WHAT IF ANY DUTIES COULD HE CARRY OUT IN LONDON BEFORE HE
PRESENTED HIS CREDENTIALS AND
(B) WOULD HE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET HIS OPPOSITE NUMBER-TO- BE IN LONDON BEFORE MR MCLAREN'S DEPARTURE.
THE CHINESE EMBASSY MAY BE PURSUING BOTH BUT I WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR ANYTHING I COULD PASS ON TO MR MA THRUGH WESTERN EUROPEAN DEPARTMENT BEFORE HIS DEPARTURE FROM CHINA ON C.26 MAY.
COATES
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
94
LIMITED
HKD
FED
NAD
ERD
PROTOCOL
RAD
NEWS
NNNN
DISTRIBUTION
94
INFO
PUSD
PS
PS/LORD CAITHNESS PS/PUS
SIR J COLES
MR BURNS
2
PAGE
RESTRICTED