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advised by members of the group whom I had consulted and
with whom I had periodic round up meetings to discuss the
line to take and to exchange information.
14.
in
our
Whilst we asked probing and intelligent questions,
strict accordance with the briefing given to us prior to
departure, however tempted we might have been, we shied
away from asking really controversial questions, eg on the
fate of the four dissidents and on China's poor record on
human rights. To that extent, we created neither waves nor
stirred up
However, I wonder whether we could
trouble.
My
have been more adventurous and less circumspect.
feeling is that Chinese officials could have tolerated
confrontational questions though they might not have liked
them.
I am making this point to assist CAB in its future
approach to be adopted by sponsored
deliberation
of the
groups of this kind.
Assessment
15.
My assessment, shared by members is that we have
attained the object of the exercise. We explored the views
and responses of Chinese officials we talked to; we got to
know them as faces behind names. Through the exchange of
views, we established
basis for future contacts. Such
familiarisation
Through
tours
а
are useful to us and to China.
such contacts, we will be able to influence views
and view-points.