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Lord Callaghan asked if we could provide him with a brief setting out the Chinese arguments against the Governor's proposals and our response to them. The Secretary of State said we would do that. Lord Callaghan also asked for details of the pro and anti line up in Hong Kong. The Secretary of State gave him a read out on Zhou Nan, Lu Ping, Jiang Zemin and Qian Qichen. Lord Callaghan said he would be clasped to the bosoms of the Chinese who considered him their greatest British friend. He would be happy to convey whatever message we would find useful. He was sure he would get a hearing.
The Secretary of State added that with Zhu Rongji it was worth emphasising that the Hong Kong issue should not affect UK-China trade. We thought Zhu Rongji would be open to such a message and that he would agree with the sentiment. The overall picture was patchy. GEC had recently won another sizeable contract. But we were having trouble over Jardines who were being singled out for critcism.
Follow up
I should be grateful if you would draw up briefing for Lord Callaghan covering the points above. Personality information on the Chinese should be fairly limited, The brief should also cover UK/China commercial issues. I should like to send it under cover of a PS letter on 5 May, so that it arrives in good time before Lord Callaghan's departure on 10 May.
Please inform the Governor and HMA Peking of the content of Lord Callaghan's call.
22 April 1993
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PS
PS/Mr Goodlad PS/PUS
Sir John Coles Mr Hum
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Saver
(R J Sawers)
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