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FR350 SECRET
FM HONG KONG 081025Z APR 33
TELEGRAM NUMBER 478 OF 3 APRIL
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING (PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR)
TOP COPY
MKKQ26/5
*ONED AT NO. $1
DE XX
12 APR 1983
See @
C
PA
REGISEPY. Action Take
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FUTURE OF HONG KONG: POSSIBLE VISIT TO LONDON BY EXCO 1. IT WAS AGREED AT THE PRIME MINISTER'S MEETING ON 9 MARCH THAT, IT WOULD BE USEFUL IF I WERE TO TAKE A GROUP OF UNOFFICIALS TO
LONDON AGAIN BEFORE TOO LONG. THE PRIME MINISTER SAW SIR S.Y.
CHUNG WHEN HE VISITED LONDON PRIVATELY IN DECEMBER, AND SHE AND
LORD BELSTEAD BOTH HAD MEETING WITH UMELCO DURING THEIR VISITS
HERE. BUT IT IS NOW SEVEN MONTHS SINCE THE LAST VISIT BY UNOFFICIALS SPECIFICALLY TO DISCUSS THE FUTURE, AND IT IS PRESENTATIONALLY
IMPORTANT FOR EXCO TO BE SEEN TO MAINTAIN REGULAR CONTACT WITH
MINISTERS. FROM THE SUBSTANTIVE POINT OF VIEW SUCH A VISIT WOULD.
BE VALUABLE WHATEVER THE CHINESE RESPONSE TO THE PRIME MINISTER'S
MESSAGE: WHETHER IT IS POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE MINISTERS WILL
PRESUMABLY WISH TO HAVE UNOFFICIALS' VIEWS ON THE WAY FORWARD,
AND THEY WILL CERTAINLY EXPECT TO BE CONSULTED.
2. ON THIS OCCASION I WOULD PROPOSE TO INVITE ALL (ALL) EXCO
UNOFFICIALS TO ACCOMPANY ME. IT WOULD BE INVIDIOUS TO CHOOSE
AMONG THEM, AND IT WOULD PROBABLY BE UNACCEPTABLE TO THE UNOFFICIALS
THEMSELVES TO ATTEMPT TO DO SO. AT THE SAME TIME, I AM SURE THAT
UMELCO AS A WHOLE WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT FRANK DISCUSSION WOULD BE
INHIBITED IF NON-EXCO MEMBERS WERE TO BE INVOLVED.
3. THE TIMING OF SUCH A VISIT WOULD DEPEND ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS,
NOT LEAST THE PRIME MINISTER'S PROGRAMME. IT SHOULD CLEARLY TAKE
PLACE AFTER THE CHINESE HAVE REPLIED TO THE PRIME MINISTER'S
MESSAGE TO ZHAO SO THAT DISCUSSIONS WITH MINISTERS COULD BE HELD
IN THE LIGHT OF THE REPLY. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE VISIT SHOULD
NOT BE DELAYED FOR TOO LONG, GIVEN THE RISK OF A CHINESE
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THEIR PLAN AT THE NPC, WHICH SOME REPORTS SUGGEST
COULD BE HELD EARLY IN JUNE. THESE CONSIDERATIONS SUGGEST THAT
WE SHOULD BE THINKING IN TERMS OF AROUND THE MIDDLE OF MAY.
4. UNLESS YOU SEE OBJECTION, I PROPOSE TO TELL EXCO AT THEIR
MEETING ON 13 APRIL THAT I AM IN TOUCH WITH THOSE CONCERNED
ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF TAKING UNOFFICIALS TO LONDON AT SOME
POINT IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO, AND THAT THIS IDEA HAS BEEN WELCOMED
BY MINISTERS IN PRINCIPLE. I WOULD NOT NEED TO SAY ANYTHING MORE
SPECIFIC ABOUT DATES AT THIS STAGE.
H415
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FUTURE OF HONG KONG
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