DEAR Peter, I read your recent article taking to task the Sino-British negotiators for speaking in cliches and proverbs.
Be that as it may, there is no use crying over spilt milk. What's done is done. Forgive and forget, that's my motto. We must learn to walk before we can run, and there can be no doubt that experience is the best teacher.
Meanwhile, up here in Beijing we continue to keep our noses to the grindstone. We press on regardless in the knowledge that it's always darkest before the dawn.
Nobody said these negotiations would be easy; the first step is always the hardest. As one of my Chinese counterparts said only yesterday, perseverance makes all things easy. As far as I'm concerned, if at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
Believe me, you can't rush these things: fools rush in where angels fear to tread. Times change; tomorrow is another day and when one door shuts another one opens.
The Chinese have a saying, ''two good talkers are not worth one good listener''. Both sides have only the best intentions, and while you might take the cynical view that the road to hell is paved with good intentions the proof will ultimately be in the pudding.
So let's not put the cart before the horse; a man puts his trousers on one leg at a time. Yours sincerely, ROBIN McLAREN DEAR Sir Robin, Thank you for your kind reply.