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IMMEDIATE
HONG KONG
ΤΟ
TELNO. 436
COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
4 APRIL 1968
13
T:O P
SECRET
PERSONAL FOR GALSWORTHY.
WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE CONTACT REFERRED TO IN MY TELEGRAM 387 THAT
JOHN KESWICK, WHO IS DUE TO ARRIVE HERE TOMORROW, HAS ASKED THE
MANAGER OF THE BANK OF CHINA, LI CHOH-CHIH, FOR AN INTERVIEW. LI
IS APPARENTLY ANXIOUS TO DISCOVER WHETHER KESWICK HAD ANY SORT OF
OFFICIAL BACKING IN MAKING THIS REQUEST.
2. WE LEARN IN STRICT CONFIDENCE FROM JARDINE'S THAT IT IS INDEED
TRUE THAT KESWICK HAS ASKED FOR THE INTERVIEW, AND THAT HIS
OSTENSIBLE PURPOSE IS TO DISCOVER WHETHER IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE
FOR HIMSELF AND A COLLEAGUE TO VISIT THE CANTON SPRING TRADE FAIR.
3. KESWICK IS SAID TO TAKE A SOMEWHAT 'APPEASING' LINE ABOUT HONG
KONG'S PROPER ATTITUDE TOWARDS CHINA SEMI-COLON AND IT COULD BE
AWKWARD, ESPECIALLY IN THE LIGHT OF THE DISCUSSIONS REFERRED TO IN
MY TELEGRAM 387, IF HE WERE TO DO SO WITH LI CIF AN INTERVIEW WERE
GRANTED). THERE IS SOME EVIDENCE THAT THE CHINESE ALREADY BELIEVE
THAT BRITISH BUSINESS INTERESTS TRADING WITH CHINA CAN BE USED TO
BRING PRESSURE ON GOVERNMENT TO TAKE A COMPROMISING LINE ON HONG
KONG PROBLEMS.
/4. THOUGH IT IS
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- 5 APR 1968
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