Separate copies to:

Mr Sankey, CAfD Mr Barltrop, CCD Mr Robson, EAD

Mr Broomfield, EESD Mr McLaren, FED

Mr Clift, HKGD

Mr Payne, MCD

Mr Miers, MED

Mr Miles, NENAD

Mr Berthoud, NAD

Mr Eyers, RID Mr Fearn, SAmD Mr Coles, SAD

Mr Burns, SEAD

Mr Barder, SAfD

Mr Daunt, SED

Mr Carruthers, SPD

Mr Burges Watson, TRED

Mr MacRae, WAD

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236

1

OVERSEAS TRAVEL BY THE PRIME MINISTER IN '1982

1.

1

Number 10 have told us that it will not be possible for the Prime Minister to spend as much time on overseas travel in 1982 as she has done during this year. It looks as if there will only be one substantial slot for travel abroad, namely 16-29 September. Any other trips, though not impossible, would be difficult to arrange and would have to last for less than a working week.

2. During his own trip to China the Secretary of State indicated to the Chinese that Mrs Thatcher hoped to pay them a visit during 1982. No British Prime Minister has yet visited China, while the Heads of Government of our major European partners (except Italy) have done so: and such a visit could advance important British interests, particularly over Hong Kong. It seems to Number 10, and indeed to us, that a Far East trip in September 1982 is therefore very much a front runner. The Prime Minister has also agreed in principle with the idea of short visits at some future date to Portugal, Nigeria and Spain (should the Lisbon Agreement be implemented).

3. I should be grateful, by close of play on 30 June, for any comments or suggestions that recipients of this minute may have on how the Prime Minister might use the time available for travel abroad in 1982.

тасыц

C LG Mallaby Planning Staff

22 June 1981

CONFIDENTIAL

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