012/5
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
DESK OFFICER
1993
REGISTRY
INDEX
PA
Action Talian
مير
Thate
7/2
IN-CONFIDENCE
FROM:
DATE:
CC:
Hugh Ll Davies
Far Eastern Department
17 February 1993
Mr Ricketts, HKD
Mr Hum
Mr Murray, OT2/DTI
Mr P McLean, Peking
>
Mr Day, BTC Hong Kong)
17
By Bag
Dr Bristow-Smith
BP AND CHINA
1. Mr Ian Hartigan telephoned on 17 February. He had seen
recent press reports that progress might have been made with
the Chinese over Hong Kong. He was about to go to the Far East and BP were about to have a ceremony to launch a
chemical licence in China. Normally such ceremonies were fairly low-key. But the Chinese had insisted on a major ceremony in Peking accompanied by a half hour televised
discussion with the Vice-Premier. This would be followed by a smaller but similar ceremony in Shanghai the next day. The
dates are 26 February and 27 February. Mr Hartigan wondered whether the Chinese decision to highlight this event might in
any way be related to developments on the Sino-British
political front. It could of course also be related to Chinese satisfaction that BP were engaged with them in discussions on development of the Tarim Basin in North West
China. He sought a read-out from me on the latest position
in relations with China.
2. I told Mr Hartigan that the situation did indeed look
rather more fluid over Hong Kong. The Chinese were putting it about in the press that they might be ready to begin discussions. We were in any case in constant touch with
them, as he would expect. We had all along advocated the need for discussions of the constitutional question.
possible that, before he went to the Far East, the Chinese
It was
IN-CONFIDENCE
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.