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British Telecom have installed a Prestel set in the suites used by Mr Hu, Mr Li, and Vice-Minister Zhou Nan. is specially programmed with a message of welcome and the access code is made up only of auspicious digits (eg 8=prosperity: and not 4-death).
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Mr Hu is a keen bridge player (see attached photograph). Sir Geoffrey Howe is sending him a BBC Bridge Companion, compatible with Chinese TV sets, which was designed by Heber, an innovative small company in Stroud.
This will be accompanied by the specially designed packs of cards issued privately by the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards in 1985. These commemorate Halley's comet, of which the first written record (of the 651 BC appearance) was in the Confucian "Spring and Autumn Annals". They were provided by Mr John Watson MP, a director of Waddington.
G The after-dinner programme of madrigals and readings at Balliol tomorrow will include poems by China's most-loved classical poet, Li Bai, and her most-respected modern poet, Ai Qing. One guest will be the (Chinese-speaking) widow of the poet William Empson, who taught pre- and post-war in China and influenced a generation of Chinese scholars of English.
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H We have just learned that as well as a huge cloisonné vase, Mr Hu will be presenting the Prime Minister with five newly-published volumes of the Chinese version of the Encyclopaedia Britannica. We will try and have available as a supplementary gift from the Prime Minister a book "Epitaph for the Elm" which would complement the English burr-elm table which the Prime Minister is giving Mr Hu.
On arrival yesterday, Mr Hu had an animated conversation with Lord Young and came across as having little oriental reserve and much enthusiasm for visiting Oxford.
Your wor
C D Powell Esq.
PS/No 10 Downing St
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