TNAG-0851-FCO40-1061-Future-of-Hong-Kong-New-Territories-leases-1979 — Page 32

C

CONFIDENTIAL

DSR 11C

Copies of the ecords are

tached for you

id for the ›vernor of ng Kong.

Substantive political and commercial talks were arranged

for Premier Hua himself, Vice Premier Yu Qiuli, and

Foreign Minister Huang Hua* A carefully selected

programme of industrial visits concentrated on 3 areas

where Britain is well-placed to contribute to China's

transport, energy and

modernisation programme

agriculture. Other possible areas of commercial

cooperation, including defence sales (where Premier Hua

was particularly pleased at the Prime Minister's open-

handedness) were covered in the talks. The programme

also provided appropriate ceremonial and cultural items

and the chance for the Chinese to meet a wide cross-

section of British people.

PREMIER HUA

8. The visit provided a unique opportunity to observe

Premier Hua himself, who emerged from relative obscurity

less than 4 years' ago. His relaxed and assured

performance in the talks and in public confirmed his

authority. At present however he does not have the aura,

or the sureness of touch, of a Mao or a Zhou. Although a

master of his well-rehearsed brief, he showed no gift for

repartee or wit, other than one heavy play on words in his

speech at Rolls Royce. His unscripted remarks were banal.

He smiled readily enough and appeared to enjoy the less

formal items. But most of the time he was detached,

impassive and impersonal, even, so far as could be

observed, with the other members of his party.

of our bilateral relations over the coming years should

1

The handling

/benefit