DD 22010OZ PEKING
GRS 296
SECRET
DESKBY 220100Z
FM FCO 211430Z MAR 84
TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
SECRET
Акк
7644
-
1
027/2
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
22 MAR 1984
DESK OF DER
INDEX
97
see as
TELEGRAM NUMBER 244 OF 21 MARCH
i
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
n
85
UKREP BRUSSELS TELNO 001 TO YOU AND YOUR TELNOS 516 AND 530: FUTURE OF HONG KONG: MY VISIT TO CHINA
1.
THE DATES SUGGESTED BY ZHOU NAN WOULD BE CLEARLY IMPRACTICABLE.
THE COMPRESSION OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S PROGRAMME IN HONG KONG IF WE FOLLOWED THE COMPROMISE IN YOUR SECOND TUR WOULD STILL BE VERY AWKWARD, AND, WE WOULD JUDGE, PRESENTATIONALLY DIFFICULT THERE. 2. WE TAKE YOUR POINT ABOUT THE PROTOCOL ANGLE. BUT WE NOTE THAT
ZHOU NAN DID NOT GIVE YOU A PRECISE DATE FOR WU'S RETURN TO PEKING (YOUR TELNO 516). THERE MAY THEREFORE BE SOME ROOM FOR FLEXIBILITY ON THE CHINESE SIDE.
3. UNLESS YOU SEE STRONG OBJECTION THEREFORE, WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD EXPLORE WITH THE CHINESE THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL OF ARRIVAL ON 15 APRIL AND DISCUSSION ON 16 AND 17 APRIL, BUT IN A WAY WHICH, IN YOUR JUDGEMENT, WOULD BEST AVOID ANY IMPLICATION OF DISCOURTESY TO WU. WOULD HONOUR BE SATISFIED BY A SHORT MEETING WITH HIM ON 16 APRIL? IF THIS OPTION TURNS OUT TO BE QUITE IMPRACTICABLE, YOU SHOULD THEN DEPLOY THE COMPROMISE TIMING IN PARA 3 OF YOUR SECOND TUR. IN ANY CASE YOU SHOULD STRESS THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S WISH TO PUT THE EMPHASIS ON WORKING SESSIONS ON HONG KONG AND TO HOLD SUBSTANTIVE MEETINGS WITH CHINESE LEADERS.
4. IF WE HAD TO FALL BACK ON THE SECOND OPTION, WE HOPE THE GOVERNOR CAN AGREE THAT A WORTHWHILE PROGRAMME COULD STILL BE FITTED IN IN HONG KONG. THE SECRETARY OF STATE MIGHT WELL BE ABLE TO BEGIN HIS PROGRAMME ON THE EARLY EVENING OF 18 APRIL. THAT MIGHT INCLUDE A MEETING WITH EXCO. POSSIBLY SOME ELEMENTS MIGHT SPILL OVER TO THE MORNING OF 20 APRIL. (WE WOULD IMAGINE HOWEVER THAT IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE BACK UNTIL THEN.)
HOWE
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
/PLANNING STAFF
/PUSD
D/ED/PUSD
PES B. (MR WALKER)
LEGAL ADVISER (SIR IAN SINCLAIR
FS
PS/LADY YOUNG
PS/AR LUCE
PS/PUS
SER J BULLARD
SIR W HARDING YR WILSON
14R FRIGENT SIR C TICNELL
COPIES TO: BUCKINGHAM PALACE PS/LORD PRESIDENT
PS/HOME SECRETARY
ISE COUNCIL
PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER
PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL
PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY
COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS EWS D
BURROWS
LEGAL ADVS
MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST
ME MARTIN ASSESSMENT STAFF CABINET OFFICE
ME GOODALL CABINET OFFICE
MR BRENNAN CABINET OFFICE PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL
BY
SECRET SER ? CRADOCK RM K195
SIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING STREET