PHER/CAT A
CONFIDENTIAL
PRIORITY FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELEGRAM NUMBER 93
TO HONG KONG
16 FEB 79.
27
(56) HKK?~||
CONFIDENTIAL.
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR.
FOLLOWING FROM PRIVATE SECRETARY,
YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 102: SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT.
26 28(29)
I AM MOST GRATEFUL FOR THIS OUTLINE WHICH LOOKS EXCELLENT.
WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE HOWEVER FOR THE MEETING WITH SENIOR OFFICIALS
ON SUNDAY TO BE CUT TO ABOUT ONE HOUR? 45 MINUTES WITH LEGISLATIVE
AND EXECUTIVE COUNCILS SEEMS RIGHT. I PRESUME THAT BOTH MEETINGS
WOULD BE INFORMAL, DESIGNED TO GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE
ATTENDING TO BRIEF THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THAT THERE WOULD BE
NO SET SPEECHES.
2. ALTHOUGH THE SECRETARY OF STATE WOULD LIKE TO MEET MEMBERS OF THE COUNCILS INFORMALLY, I THINK HE WOULD PREFER TO AVOID WHAT WOULD INEVITABLY BECOME A RATHER FORMAL MEAL (PARTICULARLY IF IT WERE TO
BE A HEAVY CHINESE ONE). ! HOPE YOU CAN DISCOURAGE THE COUNCILS FROM ISSUING AN INVITATION. WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE FOR MEETING
WITH COUNCILS TO BREAK UP INTO AN INFORMAL DRINKS FROM, SAY, 12.30 TO 1.00 P.M., THIS TO BE FOLLOWED BY A SMALL LUNCH AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE? THIS WOULD HAVE THE ADDED ADVANTAGE OF NOT MOVING FAR FROM
GOVERNMENT HOUSE.
3. THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL SEE PRESS AT AIRPORT BEFORE DEPARTURE.
IF THERE ARE LIKELY TO BE ANY PRESS AT THE AIRPORT ON ARRIVAL (GRATEFUL TO KNOW LIKELIHOOD OF THIS) HE WOULD ALSO BE WILLING TO
SEE THEM BRIEFLY AND OF COURSE TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED.
4.
THE PARTY WILL CONSIST OF MR. AND MRS. STEWART, MR. JAMES WELLBELOVED M.P. (PARLIAMENTARY PRIVATE SECRETARY), THE PERMANENT
CONFIDENTIAL
/UNDER SECRETARY