SECRET
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HICK 027188...
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Sir P Cradock
10 JUL 1934
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HONG KONG: PLANS FOR DR WILSON
1.
FROM: R D CLIFT, HKD DATE: 9 July 1984
You asked me to consider alternative arrangements whereby Dr Wilson might be got out of Peking for a spell. They are:
(a)
(b)
2.
Leave Peking at the beginning or middle of next week (16-18 July), return to London to brief the Secretary of State before his visit to China and stay in the UK until the weekend of 4/5 August, starting work again on 6 August.
Stay on in Peking, continuing the working group discussion and remaining there for the Secretary of State's visit. Dr Wilson would then leave with the Secretary of State on 31 July, get back to London on 2 August and have two weeks in the UK, returning to start work in Peking on 20 August.
The first plan would have the advantage of giving Dr Wilson an early break. (He left London on 16 June and arrived in Peking on 20 June). It would also give the Secretary of State the advantage of his advice before leaving for Peking. On the other hand the working group discussions, although moving slowly, are making some progress and are nowhere near any sort of deadlock. To bring Dr Wilson out now would interrupt the work and might be taken as a signal of displeasure on our part which I believe would be too strong at this stage.
3. Option (b) would keep Dr Wilson in Peking for longer but it would mean that he would be there for the Secretary of State's visit, which would be valuable. We would have longer to gauge the results of the working group's discussions. There would of course still be a gap in the work at the beginning of August which could prove awkward, but we might have to consider sending somebody out instead of Dr Wilson, carrying on with Mr McLaren for that fortnight. Under this option Dr Wilson could of course come down to Hong Kong to be there on 26 July when the Secretary of State arrives in order to give him a short briefing then.
4.
My own preference is for the second option and I suggest we put this to Dr Wilson with the proviso that if we run into any early difficulties in the working group (possibly once the Chinese have heard about the Secretary of State's visit) we think again. I submit a telegram.
9 July 1984
SECRET
R D Clift
Hong Kong Department