TNAG-2115-FCO40-3018-16th-meeting-of-the-Sino-British-Joint-Liaison-Group--London-1990 — Page 18

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Report on a Visit by

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SINO-BRITISH JOINT LIAISON GROUP

Hong Kong

29 September 1 October 1990

Report by Brian Simmons, Scottish Information Office

IN CONFIDENCE

-HKCD31/20

11 OCT 1990

APPOINTMENTS

Saturday 29 September

The group were welcomed at Edinburgh airport and accompanied to lunch at the city's oldest Chinese restaurant. A leisurely lunch gave me plenty of time to tell the group about Scotland and ample opportunity for the visitors to ask about various aspects of Scottish life.

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The afternoon was spent sightseeing with the group thoroughly enjoying guided tours of Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Chinese were most impressed by the city and its architecture.

Sunday 30 September

The visitors drove north west from Edinburgh to Stirling and then through the scenic Trossachs area of central Scotland before lunching in Glasgow.

The afternoon was spent visiting "Glasgow's Glasgow", an exhibition depicting the city's history, and the Burrell Collection.

The group members enjoyed their relaxed day and were pleased to have had the opportunity of seeing some of the Scottish countryside. In the evening the visitors dined in one of Glasgow's Chinese restaurants as guests of the city's Chinese community.

Monday 1 October

The background to Glasgow winning the accolade of European City of Culture was explained to the group by Ms MacKay, press and public relations manager at Glasgow 1990. She told the visitors about the year long programme of special events taking place in the city and her hope that these activities would act as a springboard for the arts not only in Glasgow but throughout Scotland. The group were then given the opportunity to ask questions and Ms Mackay answered number of queries about the cost of the event and the artistic content of the year long programme of performances, exhibitions and displays.

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The group paid a courtesy call on the Rt Honourable The Lord Provost of Glasgow, Mrs Susan Baird, Councillor Lally, leader of the Council, and Mr Hamilton, town clerk, were also on hand to welcome the visitors to the District Council. Glasgow is twinned with Dalian and this lead to conversation about links between Scotland and China including Edinburgh's twinning with Xian. The group rounded off their visit with a guided tour of the impressive City Chambers which celebrated its centenary in 1988.

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