CONFIDENTIAL
support this, provided Lord Carrington is content to make a reasonably early start. Departure from Hong Kong should be not later than 0930 to allow arrival in Peking at 1230 for a lunch/briefing with HM Ambassador before embarking on the substantive programme.
E
CHINA
6.
The programme in Peking (22 days) would be similar to that arranged for October. The main elements would be two sessions of talks with Huang Hua; calls on other Chinese leaders (we would ask for Deng Xiaoping, Premier Zhao Ziyang and, depending on developments, on Hu Yaobang, the likely successor to Hua Guofeng as Party chairman); a banquet given by the Chinese and a return dinner; and some sightseeing. A tentative outline prepared by the Embassy in Peking is attached. Decisions are required on:
(a)
(b)
Other
THE PROVINCIAL VISIT: the main options are Shanghai (with a possible side trip to Hangzhou or Suzhou) or Xian (which was the choice last autumn). possibilities are Chengde ar Datong. The arguments for and against each of these are set out in the attached note. The Ambassador's recommendation, which the department supports, is for Shanghai;
TIMING OF THE TRANSFER FROM CHINA TO JAPAN: on balance I recommend that Lord Carrington should leave China in time to arrive in Tokyo for a quiet dinner/briefing session with HM Ambassador on Sunday 5 April (the exact time of departure would depend on the decision on a provincial visit; flying time Shanghai-Tokyo is 2 hours 50 minutes plus one hour's time difference). The alternative - leaving China late on Saturday 4 April - would allow Lord Carrington to spend Sunday either resting in Tokyo or doing some sightseeing. However any sightseeing (eg of cherry blossom) would probably be very crowded on the Sunday and most of the possibilities in the Tokyo area would involve considerable travelling. In any case, departure from China on the Saturday evening would reduce the time available for the provincial visit.
JAPAN
7.
The programme would be on the same lines as the one agreed last autumn, including two session of talks with Mr Ito;
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