TNAG-1338-FCO40-1770-Visit-by-Margaret-Thatcher--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Beijing-fo-1984 — Page 133

CODE 18-77

CONFIDENT040/57

Mr Davies, Protocol Dept

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY Reference

2 ONOV 1984

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

HKK 040/5796

А в залеч

REGISTRY

Action laken

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PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO CHINA AND HONG KONG: GIFTS FOR CHINA

1.

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We spoke yesterday. I understand that the aim is for a letter to go next week from Protocol Department to No 10 about possible gifts incorporating suggestions from us (including, sugges

from

r F868F8ś t 2. The possibility is a hand made English Surr Elm coffee table:

I enclose a letter from the office of John Makepeace, one of the most distinguished British wood carvers and designers. This encloses a sample of the wood, together with a photograph of a similar table to those which are currently available. Normally the workshop only produces items to order but they have at present a number of tables in this wood with the following dimensions and prices: elliptical tables of 465mm x 720mm, 515mm x 780mm and 470mm x 720mm all at £800, an elliptical table of 435mm x 545mm at £650, a 420mm square table at £650 and a 475mm square table at £700. All the tables are some 400mm high.

3. The workshop told me that if there was any interest, Mr Makepeace might be able to bring a sample table to London at the end of the month.

4. You have also made arrangements to collect 3, books from Basilisk Press which might prove suitable. The Red Book of Humphrey Repton at £650 I have seen. It is a beautifully-made volume and the subject, landscape gardening, is appropriate because there are strong gardening traditions in both Britain and China (and Chinese plants brought back to Britain have had an immense effect on gardening here).

5. I have not seen the other two books which Miss Garry of Basilisk Press recommended but I understand they are wholly designed and printed in Britain and are excellent examples of the very high standards offlemporary design in the UK.

The paper

for these books is also made in Britain.

6.

You have been following up with DTI two suggestions made by posts about computers. Provided there are no export problems and that the experts to whom you have spoken believe they are of suitable quality, these could also go forward as suggestions.

7. Apart from the foregoing, other possible items are:

8.

(a) a large crystal bowl;

(b) a silver teapot or teaset;

(c) a silver candlestick or silver bowl

At least two presents will be required, for Chairman Deng Xiaoping and for Premier Zhao Ziyang. If the programme (which is not yet settled) includes a meeting or lunch with President Li Xiannian another present may be required: we are consulting Peking.

•

At present our inclination is to put forward this range of suggestions to No 10. However, we would suggest that for Chairman Deng a more traditional item (table - perhaps with book on it silver bowl etc) would be more appropriate. computer would be appropriate for Premier Zhao who takes a very keen interest in the social and political changes which are

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