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CONFIDENTIAL
beyond 1997 were a matter for discussion between the two governments.
5.
The general tone of this was friendly but all three of Sir Charles' interlocutors, evidently speaking from the same script, read him a lecture about recent events in Hong Kong on the political front. It contained all the elements familiar from the mainland press in Hong Kong, and Jiang Enzhu's strictures in the talks: accusations that we were playing petty tricks, that we were lacking in sincerity and seeking to sabotage the talks, and so on. The MOFERT man added some disobliging remarks about the Governor. Sir Charles said that he responded to all this simply by saying that he was glad that he was now in business and no longer in government, and that these were matters which would no doubt be discussed in our talks.
6.
In general Sir Charles thought that his visit had been well worth while. The Jardines person accompanying him (? Rosanna Mak) who was experienced in these matters, shared his feeling that he might have made some impression.
7. Sir Charles was quite clear that he did not want the Embassy to take any further action on Jardines' behalf for the time being. They would want to wait to see whether his visit had had any effect before considering next steps.
14 June 1993
Robin McLaren