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NOTE OF SBTCS CALL ON HE GENERAL DE VIEIRA, GOVERNOR OF MACAO,
15 JANUARY 1993
1. STC introduced the new British Consul,
Sebastian Wood. He
Instead
then said that Mr Needham had recently paid his third visit to
China and Hong Kong since May. During his calls in Canton there
had been no mention of Hong Kong's political problems.
there was only evidence of overwhelming Chinese interest in trade
and investment. Demand for foreign currency, credit, services
and equipment was insatiable:
the key long-term issue in
UK/China relations was not Hong Kong's detailed constitutional
*
arrangements but how best to respond to this demand from the UK's
limited resources. He went on to explain the important role
Britain could play, with European and other parties in
international trade issues.
2. STC saw two threats:
a.
Protectionism/GATT:
the threat of protectionism hung over China's overseas
markets. We had told the Chinese that HMG was committed to
free trade. We were therefore natural allies. Mr Patten
would be visiting the US to lobby for free trade, not for
political support for his constituțional proposals;
RE
HICD 128/1
12 FEB 1993
L.
INDE
ICER