GRS 140
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• SEP1981
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TOP COPY
fo
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
Antson Lake,
868.1817
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 160518Z SEP 81
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 838 OF 16 SEPTEMBER
AND IMMEDIATE PEKING
INFO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
G9
YOUR TELNO 409 TO PEKING: CHINESE VISA OFFICE.
See 183
GRATEFUL IF, WHEN EXCHANGING MEMORANDA, PEKING WOULD DISCOVER WHAT CHINESE INTENTIONS ARE ABOUT THE TIMING OF OPENING THE OFFICE AND ANY
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT.
2. I HOPE THAT ANY ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE LOW KEY AND MAKE THE POINT
THAT THE VISA OFFICE IS NEEDED TO IMPROVE PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR TRAVEL BETWEEN HONG KONG AND CHINA.
3. WHEN WE KNOW CHINESE INTENTIONS ON TIMING WE WILL PREPARE
BACKGROUND BRIEFING TO ANSWER ANY PRESS QUERIES. WE WILL CONSULT YOU ON THE CONTENT. I ALSO WISH TO INFORM EXCO IN ADVANCE OF ANY PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT. SINCE THE NEXT MEETING WILL NOT BE UNTIL 29 SEPTEMBER IT WOULD BE CONVENIENT IF THERE WERE NO ANNOUNCEMENT
BEFORE THEN. I SHOULD NOT HAVE THOUGHT THAT ANY ANNOUNCEMENT
IS REQUIRED UNTIL JUST BEFORE THE OFFICE OPENS FOR BUSINESS.
MACLEHOSE
THIS TELEGRAM
LIMITED
HK&GD
FED
MR DONALD
WAS NOT
ADVANCED
COPIES TO:-
HK GO LONDON
CONFIDENTIAL