flown in by the S.A.S. But I eventually arrived in Peking,
by orthodox means, on 27 June without incident.
It was another in the secret visit series and
remained relatively discreet until the work was done,
though an alert Daily Telegraph reporter spotted me in the
first twenty-four hours. I travelled alone. This time I had
Robin McLaren already at the other end, as our newly
installed Ambassador; and I thought the two of us should be
able to do whatever was necessary. In the event we drew
heavily on the help of his Counsellor, David Coates, and
First Secretary, Janet Rogan; and the whole of his Embassy
was mobilised in support.
There was no Hong Kong representative present.
This was unfortunate, but, in the circumstances,
unavoidable. The Governor, whom I had seen in London the day
before leaving, was very understanding; and he and his
Executive Council were kept throughout in the closest
touch.
I set out with low expectations, a less than fifty
per cent chance of success as I saw it. The ground had been
thoroughly worked over and the Chinese demands were
extreme. I had about three days: Li Peng, the Chinese Prime
Minister, was leaving for the Middle East that weekend. I
had to make it clear that this was the last word. The best
scenario, it seemed, would be the discovery of enough
common ground to support an agreed minute and to justify a
further meeting of experts to draw up an agreement. But
equally plausible was the scenario in which both sides
acknowledged disagreement and, perhaps, tried to limit the
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