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Mr Giffard
CONFIDENTIAL
HIKKOHOL, Jeupby A State
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DATED IN ALLI
2.5&P 33
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FROM R D Clift, HKD DATE: 26 August 1983
cc: PS/Mr Luce
PS/Lady Young
with R.L +9.12
AN WIE
PS/PUS
Head, Planning Staff PUSD
Hd, FED
: See separate (Late)
PROPOSED VISIT TO CHINA BY LORD RHODES: OCTOBER 1983
PROBLEM
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thoven 20 R.L
1. How to reply to Mr Alastair Goodlad's letter of 22 August
to the Secretary of State in which he:
(a) seeks the Secretary of State's consent to visit China
with Lord Rhodes from 1-15 October;
(b)
suggests that Mr Tim Renton MP (PPS/Secretary of State)
be included in Lord Rhodes' party.
RECOMMENDATION
2. I recommend that the Secretary of State:
(a) reply to Mr Goodlad as in the attached draft letter; (b) subsequently speak to Mr Goodlad and if appropriate to
Mr Renton to explain that it would not be appropriate for
either of them to accompany Lord Rhodes.
BACKGROUND AND ARGUMENT
3. My submission of 19 August gave the background to Lord Rhodes proposed visit to China and explained why it would be
inadvisable for Mr Goodlad to participate in this. Lord Rhodes has now told the Hong Kong Commissioner that he does not intend
to raise Hong Kong unless the Chinese do so. However I do not believe we can rule out his discussing his own 'solutions' to the problem. We must avoid any hint that such ideas might form, even in part, an official British Government position. Mr Goodlad's inclusion in Lord Rhodes' party would be unhelpful in this respect. Moreover, the addition of Mr Renton to the
party would give added weight to any Chinese suspicions that Lord Rhodes' views on Hong Kong had British Government backing.
>
CONFIDENTIAL
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