CONFIDENTIAL
A
Background and argument
3.
Sir Charles Powell of Jardine Mathesons has written to Mr
Ricketts enclosing evidence of official instructions to
boycott Jardines. The evidence of action against Jardines is compelling, but there is no sign that British companies in general are being discriminated against. Marconi have recently been told that they have won a contract to supply air traffic control equipment.
4.
Sir Charles Powell has raised this matter with Ambassador
Ma but has failed to obtain a satisfactory answer. There
does not therefore seem to be any point in the Minister
raising it himself with Ma. To do so would look to Jardines
that we were merely going through the motions. Equally, we
would not want to drag the Jardines issue into the talks on
Hong Kong electoral issues. The main reason for the Chinese ban is Jardines' support for the Governor's constitutional
proposals. We therefore favour taking the matter up in Peking, but in a way entirely separate from the negotiations.
The best channel might be a member of the Embassy taking it
up with the MOFTEC.
5. The Commission has offered to bring this up in the
EC/China Joint Commission which will be meeting in Brussels on 28 and 29 April. We have accepted this offer but asked that it be done without over-dramatisation and in general
terms. It would be helpful if the Embassy were able to speak to MOFTEC in time for the Chinese members of the Joint
Commission to be well aware of our concern before they
depart Peking.
Rachelh
PPR A J Bunten
A
agreed at the
Search a stake's
2
CONFIDENTIAL
Office meeting today. I have amended the telegram, Pichett 16/6
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.