Dear Ichu,
CONFIDENTIAL
Foreign and Commonwealth
London SW1A 2AH
FEC 006!!
RICE:VIC
07 JUL 1982
PA
39
24 June, 1982
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See/117
Prime Minister's Visit to Japan and China
In your letter of 24 April you said that the Prime Minister was content with the travel schedule enclosed with my letter of 5 April. After consultation with our Embassies in Peking and Tokyo we are now able to put forward a rather fuller outline programme, which I enclose with this letter.
I understand that Sir Hugh Cortazzi is calling on you at 4.00 pm on Friday 25 June to discuss the programme for Japan. You will see that there are alternative possibilities for the weekend of 18/19 September: plan A concentrates on industrial visits, whilst in plan B time is allowed for visits to some of the temples and palaces of Kyoto. The following two days would be devoted to talks and other meetings. Two items not included, but for discussion with Sir H Cortazzi, are a possible visit on the morning of 21 September to the major British promotion at the Takashimaya Department Store, and a possible demonstration flight of the BAe 146 which we should like to sell in Japan.
The Embassy in Peking have proposed to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs a programme as set out in the attached outline for the Peking and Shanghai legs of the tour. They have not as yet had any response, and have not therefore been able to discuss arrangements in more detail. As you will see the programme as it stands is somewhat thin. We propose therefore to suggest to the Embassy, subject to the Prime Minister's views, that they might propose the addition of a visit to the Peking Cancer Research Institute (which has bought a substantial quantity of British equipment and technology and the Professor of which is a vigorous proponent of Sino-British medical cooperation) on the afternoon of 23 September; an interview with Chinese television, perhaps the following afternoon; and a cultural performance on the evening of 25 September when she will be in Shanghai. An extra item which the Chinese have suggested is the laying of a wreath in Tiananmen Square at the monument to the martyrs of the Revolution. The Ambassador has recommended that the Prime Minister should agree and I should be grateful for confirmation that this will be acceptable. I understand that most visiting Heads of State and Prime Ministers, including from Western countries, in fact do this.
I shall be writing separately about the programme for Hong Kong, on which we have just received the Governor's views.
CONFIDENTIAL
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