David Tang

Thatcher, me and Hong Kong

Ten years on, Britain has received scant thanks for its role

issue 30 June 2007

It’s not enough, if you wanted a rare interview with Lady T, just to cosy up to her. This would only, in the parlance of formal logic, be a necessary but not sufficient condition. So first I took her out to lunch — at Scott’s. As we entered the restaurant, I observed to Lady T: ‘I am sorry there are so many men!’

‘But you seem to forget that I spent a lot of time in Parliament,’ she retorted, quick as a flash.

It was a jolly lunch. Lady T had a wonderful appetite and finished all three of her courses and a large coffee. We talked about a lot of things, including The Spectator. When we got up to leave, every table applauded spontaneously. It was an affectionate gesture that filled the room and the great lady with considerable warmth.

But after the cosy lunch, I still had to convince her office about my requested interview.

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