15 JULY 1989, Page 14

Mr Charles Butter

IN the article entitled 'Hong Kong finds its pride' (17 June) Ian Buruma referred to a gossip column story about a party held by a group of Jardine employees, including Mr Charles Butter, who was celebrating his imminent departure from Hong Kong. Mr Butter has asked us to point out that this party was in fact held on 3 June and that it was over before any news of the massacre of Tiananmen Square was generally avail- able.

We accept that it would therefore be wrong to imply that Mr Butter's behaviour in attending the party showed that he was uncaring about the events in China or was indifferent to the suffering of those caught in the massacre.

We are glad to have the opportunity to set the record clear on these points.