TNAG-2790-FCO40-4029-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1993 — Page 109

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3. I added that we shared Lord Palumbo's thesis that China was a country on the move. We were working for a constructive relationship with China, for expanded trade and for fruitful cultural relations. But we could not be at all certain that matters would improve in China over the next few years, and this was bound to have an effect on relations with China.

4. Lord Palumbo took all this in quite good part. He said that he shared the misgivings which I had voiced: perhaps there were some signs of "over-enthusiasm" in his article. He certainly took the point that some would not be celebrating the handover of Hong Kong: hence his reference to "marking" rather than "celebrating" the event. He asked whether we were suggesting that he amend the article or give up the idea of publication. I repeated that this was entirely a matter for him. He concluded that he would look at the article again with a view to "tightening it up".

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