Mr. Burton
In Seare
(Para 4)
PS/Mr Luce
CONFIDENTIAL
D24/=
HKK 007/20
FROM JN Hartland-Swann...
-South East Asian Department
DATE: 23 August 1983
cc. Mr Giffard
JMr Clift, HKD
Mr Elliott, FED
MR LUCE'S VISIT TO HONG KONG, BRUNEI AND SINGAPORE
1. Mr Clift's submission of 22 August, which dealt with the Hong
Kong part of the visit, mentioned that we might have a difficulty
with Brunei in the proposed press release.
complication about timing..
2.
There is also a
Although the negotiations with the Bruneis over the final
points in the defence arrangements are going well, there is still
some way to go before we can finalise agreed texts.
It would be
imprudent, therefore, to make any public announcement at this stage.
of Mr Luce's plans to go to Brunei.
sarily expect this.
Nor will the Bruneis neces-
And
3. There is also a slight problem about dates since we have
learnt that 19 September is a Public Holiday in Brunei. 23 September, as a Friday, is ruled out for any official purposes since Brunei is a Muslim country. This suggests that the logical arrangement for the programme is to start off with a visit to Brunei followed by a call at Singapore with Mr Luce then going on to Hong Kong. There would be added advantage in this arrangement since it would allow Mr Luce to brief the Singaporeans fully on
the outcome of his own talks with the Sultan.
THIS IS A COPY
THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN
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CLOSED FOR
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CONFIDENTIAL
14.