TNAG-2293-FCO40-3305-Official-visits-from-Hong-Kong-to-China-1991 — Page 125

75

advised by members of the group whom I had consulted and

with whom I had periodic round up meetings to discuss the

line to take and to exchange information.

14.

in

our

Whilst we asked probing and intelligent questions,

strict accordance with the briefing given to us prior to

departure, however tempted we might have been, we shied

away from asking really controversial questions, eg on the

fate of the four dissidents and on China's poor record on

human rights. To that extent, we created neither waves nor

stirred up

However, I wonder whether we could

trouble.

My

have been more adventurous and less circumspect.

feeling is that Chinese officials could have tolerated

confrontational questions though they might not have liked

them.

I am making this point to assist CAB in its future

approach to be adopted by sponsored

deliberation

of the

groups of this kind.

Assessment

15.

My assessment, shared by members is that we have

attained the object of the exercise. We explored the views

and responses of Chinese officials we talked to; we got to

know them as faces behind names. Through the exchange of

views, we established

basis for future contacts. Such

familiarisation

Through

tours

а

are useful to us and to China.

such contacts, we will be able to influence views

and view-points.