TNAG-2247-FCO40-3230-Business-interests-in-Hong-Kong-Cable-&-Wireless-1991 — Page 37

Низ

Huza calz

From the Private Secretary

CONFIDENTIAL

ET MON

10 DOWNING STREET

LONDON SWIA 2AA

My Store illo Ms Sands

MM

Dear Richard

Riordan

Pa

nv Ricketts Hic

& PS

PS / Low Carthners PS/PUS

Sir Iloves

по вино Head FED

27 September 1991

Special Adve

W/Hoskin.

Harkin.

copy

Да

X

"inity back one (Boudications) 3

ну

MEETING WITH LORD YOUNG, FRIDAY 27 SEPTEMBER

Thank you for the briefing note provided for this meeting.

Lord Young said he had already been to see Sir John Coles for a briefing. His impression was that the Prime Minister's visit to China had gone very well. The Prime Minister said that it had been a worthwhile visit. There had had to be some fairly blunt speaking on human rights issues, but it had ended with a cordial and good relationship with Li Peng. The visit had been necessary in order to secure the future of the Hong Kong airport, but the good working relationship in the subsequent meeting of the JLG suggested the visit could pay longer term dividends.

Lord Young asked if there was any particular message he could pass to Li Peng when he saw him. The Prime Minister spoke on the lines set out in your briefing note. He added that Lord Young could tell Li Peng that we hoped that there would be a good exchange of Ministerial visits in the coming months. In response to the question whether Lord Young could hint to Li Peng that an invitation to visit the UK would be forthcoming, the Prime Minister said that he had deliberately not raised this during his visit to China. It might be a possibility for the long term future but it would not be right to raise China's expectations at this stage. If Lord Young wanted to say on a personal basis that he, Lord Young, looked forward to seeing Li Peng in the UK at some stage, that would be different.

Lord Young said he thought that Li Peng was a man with whom we would be doing business for some time. He was a survivor. Each time Lord Young had seen him, he had been increasingly self-confident and more evidently in charge. if unappealing, he was capable.

Even

Lord Young reported on the growth in Hong Kong Telecommunications' Business with China. It was growing up to 45 per cent compound a year. China had now overtaken America as the largest destination for telephone calls. The Hong Kong Government were, for understandable reasons, seeking to diversify economically, awarding projects to other

(37

CONFIDENTIAL