TNAG-2789-FCO40-4028-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1993 — Page 122

CONFIDENTIAL

INTERDEPARTMENTAL MEETING OF CHINA, 26 FEBRUARY

Those present:

Mr Davies, FED

Dr Bristow-Smith, FED

Mr Wye, RAD

Ms Brooks, RAD

Mr Morris, HKD

Mr Lane, Economic Advisers

Mr Abbott, DTI OT2/2D

Mr Murray, DTI 0T2/2D

Mr Jones, DTI PEP3

Mr Gunesekera, British Council

Mr Mosselmans, ODA EASD

Dr Collier, Dept of Health,

International Relations Unit

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Mr Myers, DOT EVU

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Mr Muckersie, ECGD PD3

Mr Kipps, DTI OSO

Mr Buckle, MAFF

Ms Robertson, MOD

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1. The first interdepartmental meeting on China since February 1992 was held in the India Office Council Chamber on 26 February.

Mr Davies began by giving a resumé of UK-China relations over the

past year. There had not been a great deal of forward momentum.

Hong Kong, for obvious reasons, was now the dominant issue, but

there had been a number of significant high-level contacts with

the Prime Minister meeting Li Peng twice, the Foreign Secretary

meeting Qian Qichen twice and Zhu Rongji making his visit to UK.

On trade issues, Mr Davies pointed to Mr Needham's interest in

China market and changes in the CBTG as positive developments.

He also mentioned Lord Howe's mission in December 1992.

whole, the bilateral relationship was lacking in warmth.

On the

2. Mr Davies went on to review the EC position, referring to

the fact that two of the post-Tiananmen sanctions (restrictions

on Heads of State level contacts, on arms sales and high level

military contacts) and to the fact that within the EC there was a

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CONFIDENTIAL