GR 300
SECRET
DESKBY 21093OZ
FM HONG KONG 21083DZ JUN 33
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 835 OF 21 JUNE
458
SECRET
THICK 025/5
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
2 1 JUN 1983
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING (PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR)
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
REGISTRY
PA
Action Taken
W
FUTURE OF HONG KONG: VISIT BY UNOFFICIALS TO LONDON! YOUR TELNO 545
1. WHEN I SPOKE TO UNOFFICIALS THIS MORNING THEY WARMLY WELCOMED
THE PROPOSED DATES. THIS WAS NOT ONLY ON ACCOUNT OF ADMINISTRATIVE
SUITABILITY BUT BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT AN EARLY VISIT WOULD PROVIDE
VALUABLE EVIDENCE TO PEOPLE HERE OF THE NEW GOVERNMENT'S WISH TO CONSULT CLOSELY WITH HONG KONG ON THE TALKS. THEY ALSO SAW A STRONG ARGUMENT FOR THE VISIT TO LONDON TAKING PLACE IN ADVANCE OF MY VISITING PEKING SO THAT THEIR VIEWS COULD BE SEEN TO BE
TAKEN DIRECTLY INTO ACCOUNT BEFORE THE SECOND PHASE OF THE TALKS
GETS UNDER WAY.
İTAKEN
2. GIVEN THE NEED OF A FEW OF THEM TO RESCHEDULE ENGAGEMENTS, Į SHOULD BE GRATEFUL TO KNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WHETHER WE CAN NOW
GO FIRM ON JULY 4 AND 5.
3. TO KEEP SPECULATION IN CHECK AND PREEMPT LEAKS TO WHICH THE BOOKING OF FLIGHTS ETC MIGHT LEAD, IT WOULD ALSO BE HELPFUL TO
MAKE AN EARLY ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE VISIT. THIS MIGHT BE IN THE FOLLOWING TERMS:
''THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG, ACCOMPANIED BY THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, WILL VISIT LONDON FOR MEETINGS WITH MINISTERS DURING THE WEEK COMMENCING JULY 4. WHILE IN LONDON THEY EXPECT TO
CALL ON THE PRIME MINISTER, SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS AND THE MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR HONG KONG, MR RICHARD LUCE''.
4. ALL NINE UNOFFICIALS ARE LIKELY TO COME ON THE VISIT SINCE FCO
MINISTERS WILL NOT HAVE MET THEM BEFORE AND THE VISIT WILL BE A VERY IMPORTANT ONE, IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL IF I ARRIVED IN LONDON
EARLY ON FRIDAY 1 JULY TO BE AVAILABLE THAT DAY TO GO OVER THE
MATTERS THEY WILL WISH TO DISCUSS AND TO BRIEF MR LUCE (AND THE
S OF S IF HE SO WISHES). THE UNOFFICIALS WOULD THEN ARRIVE ON
SATURDAY AND BE AVAILABLE FOR A FULL PROGRAMME ON MONDAY AND
TUESDAY, 4 AND 5 JULY. WE WOULD ALL RETURN TO HONG KONG TOGETHER
ON WEDNESDAY 6 JULY.
SECRET
15.
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