Facilitator of history

Pao Yue-kong, the legendary shipping baron, did not only excel in building ships and the operation of his mega fleet. The late tycoon, who enjoyed access to both British and Chinese leaders, helped grease the wheels for early negotiations between China and Britain on the future of Hong Kong in the 1980s.

Pao encouraged China's minister of trade, Li Qiang, to meet then governor Sir Murray (later Lord) MacLehose during the minister's visit to Hong Kong in 1978. The meeting paved the way for Lord MacLehose's historic visit to the mainland in March 1979, during which the governor raised the issue of the lease of Hong Kong with China's paramount leader, Deng Xiaoping .

Three years later, Pao even used a loss-making shipbuilding deal to help break the deadlock over the talks on Hong Kong's sovereignty.

The stories about Pao's role as a facilitator of Sino-British talks on the future of Hong Kong are revealed in Pao Yue-kong: My Father, a new book by Pao's eldest daughter, Anna Sohmen.

In 1982, Pao ordered a ship from Harland & Wolff, a shipbuilding company in Britain, although he could have got a similar vessel for a lower price from a competitor in Japan. And it took 12 months longer for its completion. It was a boost to Britain's ailing shipbuilding industry, however, and helped him cement his relationship with then prime minister Margaret Thatcher.

During a meeting with Mrs Thatcher, now Baroness Thatcher, Pao said it was the only loss-making deal he had ever made. He described the order as a 'Christmas gift' for her, but with strings attached. He invited the 'Iron Lady' to officiate at the ceremony to launch the vessel, United Effort, in Britain later that year and another ceremony for the new ship in Shanghai the following year