204
JOHN SWIRE & SONS LTD
Swire House
59 Buckingham Gate
London SWIE 6AJ
Registered Office
П
Registered Number 133143 ENGLAND
for
From Sir Adrian Swire
Chairman
31 to 1992
lormation. 01214
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
6 JAN 1993
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
NEGISTRY
Telegrams:
TEMSELOAF LONDON SWI
Telephone:
071-834 7717
Far: 071-630 0353
Telex: 888800
Answer back:
SWIRE G
Sun December, 1992.
The Rt. Hon. Alastair Goodlad, MP,
Minister of State,
Foreign & Commonwealth Office,
King Charles Street,
LONDON, SW1A 2AL.
B
pa 012/4
M.
м
8/1 Arg
Manis
211.
(148) F
41;
Dear Alastari,
149)
Thank you for your letter of December 16th in response to mine of December 7th. I am appreciative that you understand the delicate situation in which Swires finds itself.
I felt, however, that I ought at least to comment on your view that, once the political problems are resolved and the economic realities have reasserted themselves, then "you will find your relationship with China back pretty much to normal”.
I am afraid that that would not be our judgment. The mutual confidence between Peking and Swires, built up over a long period, has certainly been impaired by recent developments, and we will be faced with the need to reconstruct, brick by brick, the understandings which had existed prior to the current political commotion. Peking will no doubt also expect an element of kowtow on our part and that particular pirouette will undoubtedly take some time to sort out! Meanwhile, for our part, we will do all that we can to keep the temperature down.
Happy New Year and please do not acknowledge.
Yours Gra Aduai