1
PP PEKING
PP TOKYO
GRS 314
RESTRICTED
Reply, nohyes received
2717...
RESTRICTEN
тек
WPS
Now Recy
2715
026/12
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51
2 4 JUL1981
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
20230 JAction Taken
هل
Lo $24.7
I
FM FCO 211700Z JULY 31.
TO PRIORITY PEKING
TELEGRAM NUMBER 361 OF 21 JULY 1981. AND TO PRIORITY TOKYO, HONG KONG
PEKING TELNO 455: MR RIDLEY'S VISIT
1. IN VIEW OF CLEAR CHINESE PREFERENCE FOR ALTERNATIVE DATES (AND PRESSURE OF OTHER VISITORS TO TOKYO AND HONG KONG IN SEPTEMBER) MR RIDLEY HAS CONCLUDED THAT A FAR EAST TOUR IN THE SECOND HALF OF NOVEMBER WOULD BE PREFERABLE.
2. A DIFFICULTY HAS BEEN TO FIT THIS IN WITH HIS ATTENDANCE AT THE ANTIGUA INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATIONS ON 1 NOVEMBER AND HIS CHAIRING OF THE PACIFIC HEADS OF MISSION CONFERENCE
ALSO IN NOVEMBER. HE HAS NOW
DECIDED TO BE IN WELLINGTON FROM 12-14 NOVEMBER AND IS FREE TO LEAVE THERE ON 15 NOVEMBER TO START HIS FAR EAST TOUR. WE DO NOT YET HAVE AUTUMN AIRLINE SCHEDULES BUT IT IS CLEARLY MUCH MORE CONVENIENT TO FLY FROM THERE TO HONG KONG RATHER THAN TO TOKYO (SOME 15 HOURS INCLUDING STOPS, COMPARED WITH A MINIMUM OF 24 HOURS INCLUDING STOPS). MR RIDLEY THEREFORE PREFERS TO VISIT HONG KONG FIRST (SUBJECT TO THE VIEWS OF HONG KONG WE CONSIDER THAT THE DIFFICULTIES SET OUT IN PARA 3 OF MY TELNO 310 ARE CONTAINABLE).
3. ON THIS BASIS, AND WITHOUT AT THIS STAGE CONSULTING HOST GOVERNMENTS, GRATEFUL FOR YOUR EARLY VIEWS ON THE FOLLOWING ITINERARY:
15 NOVEMBER EVENING TO 18 NOVEMBER:
18/19
22/23 NOVEMBER
23 NOVEMBER 27 NOVEMBER
-
4. FOR PEKING AND HONG KONG.
:
HONG KONG
CHINA
JAPAN
WE CAN SEE NO OBVIOUS SNAGS IN
THESE DATES, EXCEPT THAT AS WE UNDERSTAND IT THERE ARE NO HONG
1
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