CODE 18-77
"
CONFIDENTIAL
Mr Williamson 16.2
Mr Quant ill or
Reference..
HKK CZE Z
VISIT TO FAR EAST BY MINISTER OF TRANSPORT
1.
COLLO A RETRY NO. SA
11 FEB 1980
DESK OFFICER
NOCK
P3
dim. Tako
No! RETIR
Astia) Alt 1"1/2
11/2
2
Mr Deakin (International Transport Division, Department of Transport) rang about the proposed visit to the Far East by Mr Fowler, Minister of Transport. The main object was China, on which there have already been discussions with FED. Mr Fowler also wishes to visit Hong Kong, in order to look both at opportunities in the Hong Kong market itself and at the possibilities of Hong Kong as a channel for the sale of transport equipment to China. At present the overall dates agreed by the Prime Minister are 3-14 April. Would it be alright for Mr Fowler to go to Hong Kong from 4-7 April, ie over the Easter weekend?
2.
I said it definitely would not. Hong Kong would be on holiday and such a visit would be taken amiss. We discussed alternatives of which the most hopeful seemed to be for Mr Fowler to make his overall dates rather later and to visit Hong Kong after China, probably on 14-15 April. I told Mr Deakin that so far as we knew at this end there were no conflicting events but of course the Governor would have to be consulted.
3.
Mr Deakin undertook to pursue this within the Department of Transport and come back to us with a draft telegram.
Di
6 February 1980
R D Clift
Hong Kong and General Department
CC
Mr McLaren FED
CONFIDENTIAL