Mr Luce's Visit
106)
GRS 210
SECRET
DESKBY 12063OZ
FM HONG KONG 120457Z JUL 84
TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
Secret
TELEGRAM NUMBER 637 OF 12 JULY
INFO IMMEDIATE F CO
FOR GOVERNOR FROM BRAY.
HICK OR7/12
RECEIVED IN REGIS
1 2 JUL 1984
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
Mo
en
THE MEDIA MOOD TODAY IS SLIGHTLY LESS PANICKY THAN YESTERDAY. IT WILL TAKE SOME TIME TO RECOVER FROM THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF MR LUCE'S ·
VISIT AT SHORT NOTICE. THE PRINCIPAL CAUSE FOR SUCH REASSURANCE AS HAS EMERGED SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN A BBC REPORT THAT UK WHILE NOT
ADAMANTLY RESISTING THE LIAISON GROUP IS INSISTING THAT IT WORK IN
LONDON OR PEKING BUT NOT IN HONG KONG.
2. IF THE SECRETARY OF STATE DOES ALTER HIS PLANS AND COMES NEXT
WEEK I FEAR WE SHALL HAVE DIFFICULTY IN PREVENTING QUITE SERIOUS ALARM. EVEN THE PROPOSED VISIT DATES AT THE END OF JULY WILL SEEM
VERY SOON.
KTRY
3. IN ORDER TO ATTEMPT SOME PREPARATION OF OPINION YOU MAY WISH TO CONSIDER, APROPOS MR LUCE'S VISIT, SAYING SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT THAT THIS IS ONE IN A CONTINUING SERIES OF VISITS AND YOU ARE SURE
THERE WILL BE OTHERS DURING THE SUMMER AND AUTUMN AS MINISTERS ATTACH
IMPORTANCE TO REGULAR PERSONAL CONTACT WITH OPINION IN HONG KONG
AS THE SITUATION DEVELOPS.
BRAY
90
LIMITED
HKD
FED
PS
PS/MR LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR W HARD ING
Secret