i
CONFIDENTIAL
Mr Resell
Рука
FROM:
DATE:
REGIST
027/12
MAXPRECIO 127 12. (122)
9/9
SEP 1934
M BALEK OFF TOFA
PA
1. 36:stny
MM
Mark Ellibtt, Far East Department
31 August 1984
CC:
Mr Boyd
Protocol Dept
Mr Galsworthy, HKD
Miss Neville-Jones, Planning Staf
120
PS/Mr Luce
VISITS OVERSEAS BY MR LUCE: FIRST QUARTER OF 1985
1.
In your minute of 17 August, you asked for bids for possible overseas visits by Mr Luce between Christmas and Easter 1985.
2. The only FED country with a possible claim is China. It is unfortunately too early to put a detailed case and consider timing. Much will depend on developments between now and Christmas over the future of Hong Kong. However, it appears increasingly likely that an Agreement will be signed on schedule with China in December. If so, this will be the most significant event in our bilateral relations since 1949.
3. The Planning Staff are considering separately the extent to which this will present new opportunities in our relations with China. But, in this context, there could well be a case for an early visit in 1985 by Mr Luce. Although the Secretary of State has visited Peking twice this year, his time there has been taken up almost entirely with Hong Kong. A visit by Mr Luce could present the first opportunity for some time of a more comprehensive high-level exchange on the political side. It could also prepare the ground for Zhao Ziyang's visit to Britain later in 1985, proposed on 31 July by Deng Xiaoping to the Secretary of State.
Markshisht
CONFIDENTIAL
Mark Elliott
Far Eastern Department