TNAG-2919-FCO40-4194-International-support-for-Hong-Kong-the-Americas--excluding--1993 — Page 37

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not the right way to proceed, and that neither had said that the British were impossible and China could not discuss matters with them further.

4. Mr Clark said that hopefully in his discussion with Qian he had emphasised the closeness of the Governor's personal relations with Mr Major and the Foreign Secretary, and had said that the Chinese should not suppose that Mr Patten was on his own.

5. In further conversation, Mr Clark referred to his participation in a recent Williamsburg meeting at which a number of senior Hong Kong businessmen had been present. They had all been opposed to the Governor's proposals and their opposition had clearly created an impression with the

Mr Clark thought it would other business people present.

be helpful if our Ambassadors and High Commissioners were given instructions to explain the facts of the Governor's proposals (as opposed to what some people said about them) to businessmen with strong China links in the countries

This would help to counter the where they were accredited. impression being created by Hong Kong businessmen.

6.

I am

Mr Clark will be flying to Hong Kong later this morning and will be calling on the Governor. therefore sending a copy of this minute to his Private Secretary.

29 March 1993

شگاه

Robin McLaren