TNAG-2759-FCO40-3976-Henry-Keswick--UK-businessman--and-the-Hong-Kong-Association-1993 — Page 2

CONFIDENTIAL

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Mr Morris

LAST PAR

FROM: N C G Whitney

Hong Kong Department

DATE: 23 November 1993

cc: Mr Hum o/r

x/r Whitney HKD

c. (PUS's comment). Alo Hum

Mr Masefield Forfeld 241x1

APS/RUS

J. F.

pus

General tow al horizon (v. complimention

imissaws)

about help wzeited from

PUS: LUNCH WITH HENRY KESWICK

A 1.

ио

Serious Iscussion of Hay Kay & near

steps

d

the 1995 . eleckians.

129/ki

DAVID GILLMORE

You asked whether there are any particular points which

should be brought to the PUS's attention for his lunch with Henry Keswick.

2.

Jardine Matheson have been one of the few Hong Kong companies to give public support to the Governor's proposals for constitutional development. Despite this (and previous actions which irritated the Chinese) Henry Keswick judged his visit

(with Sir C Powell) to Peking in September to have been a

success. Sir C Powell thought Jardines were "out of the sin

bin". Nevertheless, Jardines remain concerned about the delay

of the Container Terminal 9 land grant in Hong Kong and the

continuing threat that they will suffer commercially (along with other British companies) if the talks with China break down.

3. (For the PUS's personal information). On the talks, the

sixteenth round (19-20 November) did not go well. The Chinese

have hardened their position and the outlook for a first stage

deal is bleak. A further round of talks will take place on

26-27 November. If we cannot reach agreement on an interim

package, the Governor will need to go ahead with legislation.

Inch.min.ADM

SLM

CONFIDENTIAL