TNAG-2356-FCO40-3427-Ministerial-visits-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1991 — Page 97

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Some of the above is reminiscent of what happened when Tim Sainsbury, Minister of Trade at the DTI, was here in September last year (see my Telno 2880 of 27 September to Robin McLaren). Lobbying is understandable and a fact of life. I do hope however that it can be kept to a straightforward basis, without allegations that the playing field is tilted in the wrong direction and demands that it should be tilted in another way. Such approaches will inevitably backfire to the detriment of real British interests.

Sir John Coles KCMG

DUSS

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Governor

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