SECRET
DD 14010OZ PEKING
GRS 196
SECRET
DESKBY 140100Z
HKK 027 / 2
17 AMRIPS4
JETRY
FM FCO 131000Z APR 84
TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
TELEGRAM NUMBER 406 OF 13 APRIL
A KEB M/16/4
AND TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
(220
NIR
YOUR TELNOS 710 AND 711 AND HONG KONG TELNO 1012–
SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT: PRESS ARRANGEMENTS
230
1. WE AGREE THAT THERE WOULD BE VALUE IN ISSUING A JOINT
STATEMENT ALONG THE LINES YOU SUGGEST PROVIDED THAT THE
RISKS OUTLINED IN PARA 4 OF FIRST TUR CAN BE AVERTED. IF
HOWEVER THE CHINESE INSIST ON UNHELPFUL REFERENCES, EITHER
WITHIN THE STATEMENT OR UNILATERALLY, THE NET EFFECT
WOULD BE LIKELY TO BE DETRIMENTAL.
2. PLEASE THEREFORE SOUND OUT THE CHINESE INFORMALLY
WITH YOUR PROPOSED TEXT. IF IT BECOMES CLEAR THAT THEY
WILL NOT COOPERATE, YOU SHOULD DROP THE PROPOSAL AS
QUIETLY AS POSSIBLE. YOU COULD REVERT TO DISCUSSION OF
FACTUAL STATEMENTS AFTER EACH MEETING, TO WHICH WE SEE
NO OBJECTION.
3. THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL BE BRIEFED TO INVITE
WU XUEQIAN TO PAY A RETURN VISIT TO BRITAIN REGARDLESS
OF WHETHER OR NOT A JOINT STATEMENT IS ISSUED. YOUR
PREDECESSOR ISSUED AN INVITATION SHORTLY AFTER WU TOOK
OFFICE BUT IT HAS NEVER BEEN TAKEN UP. WE ASSUME THAT
WU WOULD BE UNLIKELY TO PROPOSE DATES UNTIL THE POSITION
ON HONG KONG WAS CONSIDERABLY CLEARER.
HOWE
LIMITED
FED
HKD
NEWS
COPIES TO
SIR P CRADDOCK
PROTOCOL
PS
PS/MR LUCE
MR WILSON
CECRET
7.6
1
262