TNAG-1743-FCO40-2462-Visits-by-FCO-officials-to-Hong-Kong--including-visit-by-Lor-1988 — Page 119

CONFIDENTIAL

Sichuan is China's most populous province (103 million), its main grain producer and is rich in

minerals which form the basis for heavy industry.

Foreign businesses setting up in Sichuan get

preferential treatment. Links with the UK are growing, through a programme of visits and town twinning. Chongqing is in the Yangtze at the

beginning of the Three Gorges area. Chengdu has an

air link with Hong Kong.

(b) Nanjing, Jiangsu Province

22 June

24/25 June

27 June

28 June

Hong Kong to Peking

Peking to Nanjing

Suzhou/Wuxi

Shanghai?

29 June

Shanghai to Hong Kong to London

This is one of the most open and developed regions of China, a coastal province. A strong industrial base

with good connexions. A forerunner in economic

reforms. Attractive towns of Suzhou and Wuxi.

In both cases we favour initial orientation and talks

with the MFA and others in Peking. We have not yet

consulted the Embassy about the itinerary: they may of course wish to put up some further alternatives.

But

PD3ABI

CONFIDENTIAL

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