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4.
Mr Lees said that having met both Zhao Ziyang and
Li Peng his view was that they were not as far apart as the
press suggest. They did of course have different ideas about pace but in general were on the same track. He admitted that this was based only on relatively short observation but stressed that the view was supported by his conversations with
other senior Chinese officials.
Comment
5.
Mr Lees and his group have access to the top
leadership. This of course is not unique. Many senior
business groups see the leadership. Nevertheless their
discussions in Peking are likely to have more substance than
those of some visitors and I think that we should think
seriously whether there are any particular messages we would
like to get over. We can of course expect that Lord Barber
will be in touch with the FCO before leaving and with our
Ambassador in Peking. But as Mr Lees pointed out, some
messages about Hong Kong can most effectively be put over
through the mouths of Americans or Japanese rather than
British. I should be grateful for your own views and
impressions in line with your dicussion with Mr Lees. Perhaps
we could then consider with S(GD) points which we might want
made and how these should be put over.
Dir
(R D Clift)
Political Adviser
11.3.1989
C.C.
CS S(GD) SASI
PS/GH
A R Paul Esq (HKD, FCO)
Miss Alyson Bailes (BE, Peking)
K
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