TNAG-2779-FCO40-3998-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-Chinese-reac-1993 — Page 138

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Feros 153

CONVERSATION WITH COLONEL K.S. CANTLJE ABOUT HIS VISIT TO CHINA

Colonel Cantlie called, at his own suggestion, on December 14 and gave Mr. Bolland and myself the foowing account of his recent visit China.

2. Col. Cantlie went to Chia with the UKRAS Delegation in mid-October as an adviser to the delegation on Chinese railways and subsequently stayed on to represent R.A. Lister & Coj at the Puking Trade Fair. Brigadier Walter nus dirtaty reported on the UKRAS visit and

Col. Cantlie's only additional point of any interest was a suggestion that British Railways should perhaps have been represented in the delegation at a rather higher level. He thought that the delegation might then have meritoả reception by a Chinese Minister which would have put them on a better l'ooting had little to say of the Trade Fair;

Col. Cantlie had succeeded in obtaining Listers an order for some diesel engines.

for fruitful discussion.

nc

3. Col. Cantlie had again ocen treatcd to an interview on political matters by the Chinese. me had not on this occasion asked to see Mr. Chou En-lai and had been received only by Mr. Wu Mao-sun, Secretary-General of the Chinese People's

the Institute for Moreign Affairs. rehearsed his conversation with ur. Ju in: some detail for us.

4.

He

Mr. Wu had first asked about the now government in Britain and remarked of Mr. Harold Wilson that, when he had met him during the visit ne made to China GOME years ago, ne nad found him "very receptive". Mr. Wu added that the Chinese had also welcomed the recent visit of Mr. Jay. He then questioned Col. Cantlie about his connections with the British Government and with British industry and subsequently thanked him for helping to bring the UKRAS Mission to Peking. Col. Cantlie emphasised nis independence of government and the modesty or nis industrial interests,

5. When the conversation turned to british trudo viun China, Mr, Nu spok the political difficulties SciLL CHANGE between Britain and China, notably H.A. Government's continuing relations wECH Teiwan. When col, Cuntlie policed cus that in AGD LG AAd no formal relaticas with Taiwan, MP, „u mentioned tAL Tall publici ty centre in London and to London some years ago or a Tolvan

era company 2. evidence that

Col. Cantli, comm At

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