ing
firmed up for the week beginning 18 March, it would not seem
to conflict with that of the Secretary of State's proposed f
a month later. Assuming a visit to Japan, the Secretary
of State ought ta perhaps also to go to Korea if offence is
not to be given, and an Easter visit would mark the centenary
of UK-Korean diplomatic relations. President Chun of Korea
has been invited to visit the UK in 1984 but is not expected
to come during the first half of the year and may not even
do so during the second half,
6. [It would clearly make practical sense to include Hong Kong
will
and Peking. in a tour of the Far East, We do not know however
when the talks on the future of Hong Kong might reach the
point at which the presence of the Secretary of State would
help take matters forward other possibilities are stop-over
visits to Pakistan to demonstrate our support over
Afghanistan; and to Nepal, where the Ghurka connection gives
substance to our relations, if the Prime Minister decides
not to go there.
Middle East
7.
A tour of Middle Eastern countries might best be taken
in two stages.
would probably
The Secretary of State might find it useful
to pay an early visit in order to get a personal insight
into Middle Eastern affairs and to demonstrate that we are
at the end of March would
C
committed to an active policy in the region,
nevan. The Queen's State Visit to Jordant provides a first
class opportunity for the Secretary of State to visit that
country and a Middle Eastern tour could ideally be built
around it. However, such a tour might involve the Secretary
of State in an inacceptably long absence from the UK while
in addition to Parliament is in session. Undertaken together with an
overseas tour during the Parliamentary recess it might be
thought to be excessive. In the circumstances, it might be
better for the Secretary of State only to go to Jordan
It might be preferable therefore to leave His option open.