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My own feeling was also that for an essentially short- term project (as rightly stated in paragraph 21) paragraphs 17 - 20 present a rather long-term and ambitious scenario of future research and dialogue. It is necessary to be realistic about
the audience for such research, including the possibility of maintaining "links with policy level professionals" in China. I suggested a certain amount of Presidential blue-pencil work on this section.
5.
I am writing the above on a personal basis. But now that the political issue has been raised I would not expect that my
I formal instructions would allow me to press for less.
As you recall I was from the outset at pains to mention the potential sensitivity of this work (eg over aid requirements); and I am concerned, for the sake of the Centre's credibility, that any initial work on China should be as tightly-drawn and realistic in scope as possible. Be that as it may, however, I should prefer, at the meeting on 1 December, to avoid a political discussion. My own view is therefore that it would be prefer- able simply to withdraw the current text and to re-issue it in the truncated form which I have suggested. I cannot promise to be acquiescent on all the detail: but at least there would be the basis for a more fruitful meeting.
Yours sincerely
Jintan - Kongs
TJ B George
CC:
Mr Uffen
B Ireton Esq
Economics Service
ODA
-C O Hum Esq✓
Hong Kong Dept FCO
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