CONFIDENTIAL
- 3
DSR 11C
indications in particular of the Prime Minister's
likely cultural interests, for example whether she
would like to visit Chinese artists' studios or a
painting academy in Peking, or whether she would be
interested in any musical or dramatic performance.
In general we have conceived the visit as being largely
working, with the essential elements being the
meetings with Japanese and Chinese leaders, and with
no sightseeing as such given that Mrs Thatcher visited
both China and Japan in 1977. We should also be
grateful for an indication of the likely size of the
party from No 10, including any members of Mrs Thatcher's
family for whom separate programmes may be required.
4. I should perhaps explain that both the Japanese
and Chinese Governments would prefer the order of
visits to their two countries to be as we have proposed.
This suits us well, as there will be very great
interest in Hong Kong in the results of the Prime
Minister's discussions with Chinese leaders in Peking,
and this will in practice require her to go straight on
to Hong Kong from China. To return to the UK direct
from Hong Kong makes geographical sense.
CONFIDENTIAL