Mr Hall PCD
G 6/G
CONFIDENTIAL
Reference
FEC 026/1
очь
Mien 026/1
J
97
Fano 2117
seerioo
PM'S VISIT TO CHINA:
COMMUNICATIONS IN SHANGHAI
1. I have political reservations about the proposal that in certain circumstances we should avail of the good offices of the US Consul- General in Shanghai for secure communications with the Prime Minister's party while they are in that city 25/26 September.
2.
It is quite possible that the problem of US arms sales to Taiwan will have led to a further deterioration in Sino/US relations and even a recall of Ambassadors by September. Because of Hong Kong and for strategic reasons we could not afford to let this affect our bilateral relationship with China. But use of US diplomatic facilities could easily arouse Chinese resentment and suspicion that our China policy was once again being decided in Washington. This might be unreasonable but it could also be damaging.
Would an alternative be to arrange for the PM's VC10 to arrive. in Shanghai on 25 September and agree with the Chinese that we could use its communications for the 24 hours of Mrs Thatcher's stay? Or could we send a courier to and from Peking or Hong Kong?
3.
In any case I hope we can avoid giving No 10 the impression that it will be easy to communicate securely with Shanghai.
4.
тох
CODE 18-77
21 July 1982
cc: Mr Barrie, NAD
Mr Morris, HKGD
N J Cox
Far Eastern Department
Многие
24/7 P.A..
I'm not sure that the Chuise would really to believe x1, but l'agree
시
with Y.
NGA
ре
wh
247
CONFIDENTIAL