TNAG-2783-FCO40-4002-UK-business-interests-in-Hong-Kong-Chinese-discrimination-ag-1993 — Page 112

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China's position when Zhu Rongji was here. It remained their position.

5. Ma added that China had consistently attached great importance to Sino-British commercial relations. Our two economies were complementary. There was potential for further development. Our joint efforts had led to a growth in bilateral trade in 1992. He hoped this could rise again in 1993.

6.

Ma said with deliberation that China's Minister of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade, Li Lanqing, was looking forward to receiving Mr Heseltine in Peking. Some big projects were still under discussion (Canton Metro, Nanjing Airport and Nanhai Petro-Chemical Complex). Both governments should make efforts to promote cooperation on these. China's business community hoped that Britain would take their overall interests into consideration, remove man-made obstacles and thus create a healthy climate for economic cooperation.

7. Ma added that over the last two months, the Chinese Embassy had been approached by a number of their friends in the business community here. They always asked for an account of China's position on Hong Kong. When the businessmen asked specifically whether the dispute on Hong Kong would affect trade relations, the Embassy took the line that they hoped not, but that this was not up to China.

8. Coles responded briefly underlining our commitment to the JD and noting Ma's positive points about prospects for trade and Mr Heseltine's visit. We had no objection to the Chinese Embassy explaining their position on Hong Kong in response to enquiries. His remarks had addressed the separate issue of members of the Embassy taking the initiative to tell business leaders that their interests in China could be affected by the attitude they adopted on Hong Kong. We found that behaviour inappropriate.

9. Ma said he understood the point we were making. He emphasised again how much Mr Li was looking forward to Mr Heseltine's visit.

COMMENT

10.

Ma had evidently failed to discover in advance the specific point Coles intended to raise. He had therefore come equipped with an all-purpose speaking note and was obliged to improvise.

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