MI6 links of British business man in China found dead in hotel

Immaculately dressed, often in cream linen, Neil Heywood was the epitome of a British gentleman abroad, but his death in a hotel room in China has left those who knew him asking what secrets he may have taken to his grave.

The 41-year-old Old Harrovian was a business adviser with vast experience of China. He was an entrepreneur with an eye for deals and his insight was much sought, as were his connections to Chinese officials, including Bo Xilai, who was one of the Communist party's rising stars.

But it also emerged yesterday (Tuesday) that he was an adviser to Hakluyt, a corporate intelligence company founded by former MI6 officers. Hakluyt confirmed that Mr Heywood prepared periodic reports for it, but said he had not been working for the company at the time of his death.

A friend who has known him since childhood described Mr Heywood as "like a character in a Graham Greene novel - always immaculate, very noble, very erudite".

"Privately, I always wondered if he was in MI6," said the friend, who added that there was no evidence to suggest that he had been a spy.

"He had his fingers in many pies, and often it is quite easy to make someone like that the scapegoat, to make them look suspicious, but he was not at all mysterious to the people who knew him."

Mr Heywood's death in Chongqing in November was initially attributed to natural causes. He was cremated without a post mortem examination and his remains given to his family.

The British embassy in Beijing has now asked for a fresh investigation after Wang Lijun, the city's former police chief, raised the possibility of foul play and a link emerged between Mr Heywood and Mr Bo, the powerful politician who was purged from the Communist Party this month.

Leonie Summers, Mr Heywood's sister, flew from London to collect his ashes with his wife, Lulu. The family was told he had died of a heart attack, while the British embassy was given another reason - excessive alcohol consumption - which friends say was unlikely as he was not a big drinker.

Mr Heywood was connected to Mr Bo's family, and may have helped his son get into Harrow. He was also said to have had a business relationship with Mr Bo's wife, Gu Kailai, that turned sour.

"It is very strange that it was not reported in any media. I can only think it is because everyone was too afraid of Bo Xilai to look into it," said one Chongqing-based journalist who asked not to be named.

Mr Heywood's friend said: "What is interesting is that the Chinese government did not want anything to do with the case. And the British embassy was not helpful at the time.

"Whether or not he died under suspicious circumstances, the question is why is this being raised now, rather than at the time of his death?

"He might have had knowledge that he should not have had. Whatever it was, he appears to have been a pawn in a bigger picture."

That rumours may be an attempt by the Chinese government to smear Mr Bo, who remains widely popular.

Mr Heywood spent two decades in China, earning fees by introducing Chinese companies to their Western counterparts. "He was the middle man," said his friend, who asked not to be named. "He knew a lot of interesting people and he put them together. He got deals done but was under the canopy."

Mr Heywood was brought up in Clapham before following in his father's footsteps at Harrow, where he boarded at West Acre house. He studied at Warwick University and got his first job in the House of Commons.

He quickly decided, however, that China represented a golden opportunity.

"He was very clear that he was in China because there were opportunities there, but he had been planning to move back to the UK, so his boy and girl could enjoy the same sort of upbringing he did," his friend said.

His time in China took its toll and he had aged rapidly in the last few years, but he remained popular.

"He was very kind, warm, the sort of man who would look for the person in the room who was uncomfortable and go to make them feel at ease. You could talk to him about anything," his friend said.