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Mr Murra
PS/Lord Goronwy-Roports Wet in
GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG: VISIT TO CHINA
Hkkoal
26/23
RY NO. 51
2 6 FR 1979
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1. The Secretary of State has agreed that the Governor of Hong Kong should take up an invitation to visit China in the last week of March. The Prime Minister has been informed and is content with what is proposed (Mr Cartledge's letter of 12 February).
2.
Specific dates have now been put locally to the New China News Agency in Hong Kong (the channel through which the visit is being arranged) and their response is expected at the end of this week. Once Chinese agreement has been obtained the Governor wishes to announce the visit in Hong Kong. For good local reasons he would like to do so on Monday, 26 February (Hong Kong telegram No 306).
3.
In his telegram under reference the Governor displays some anxiety that we might wish him to delay going to China because of the fighting on the Sino/Vietnamese border. Unless the situation takes a very serious turn for the worse, I believe that it would be a mistake to postpone a visit which is fully justified in terms of Hong Kong/China relations. HM Ambassador in Peking concurs in this view (paragraph 2 of Peking telegram No 254).
4. I have no comments on the suggested text of the announcement, or on the line to take in unattributable press briefing.
Mr Cradock
is content with both. But the proposed timing of the announcment is a little awkward and despite the risk of a leak Ministers may wish to see it deferred for a week by which time the Sino/Vietnamese situation may be a little clearer. A longer delay could provoke speculation that the visit was arranged in a hurry, something which the Governor quite rightly wishes to avoid.
5. I submit a draft telegram. If necessary I can pass the text by telephone (we are exploring the possibility of using a Ministry of Defence secure speech link).
6.
FED agree.
22 February 1979
Copies to:
PS
PS/PUS
Mr Cortazzi
Mr Samuel (FED)
23/2
Ru Rangeen
R JT McLaren
Hong Kong and General Department
CONFIDENTIAL