554
Sir P Cradock
PS/PUS
SECRET
HKK020/17
47
&
1417
/a
FROM: A C GALSWORTHY, HKD
DATE: 17 July 1984
cc: Sir W Harding
Mr Orr, FED
FUTURE OF HONG KONG: MINISTERS' ABSENCES AND DECISIONS ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG
1. I submit, as requested by the PUS, a flow chart showing absences of the Ministers most closely involved with Hong Kong (The Prime Minister, the Secretary of State and Mr Luce) and the
times at which critical decisions will need to be taken during the talks on the future of Hong Kong. We do not yet know the leave plans of OD(K) Ministers, but will submit these early next week.
2.
The exact timing of critical decisions on the future of Hong Kong cannot be predicted with any confidence at this stage. We believe however, that critical moments will arise in:
(a)
(b)
the last week of August, when we shall need to assess the package that will have begun to form through discussions in the working group and the plenary sessions. Ministers will need to decide whether a second Ministerial visit to Peking is necessary; and
mid-September, when we will need to decide whether to accept or reject a final package.
For the first of these critical points (20-30 August), the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State and Mr Luce will all be away on holiday. For the second critical period (10-20 September) the Prime Minister will be away in South East Asia, and the Secretary of State will be about to leave for the UN (24 September).
3.
I recommend that Ministers' attention be drawn to these problems with a view to ensuring that a Minister with Hong Kong experience is available at critical moments to take decisions.
17 July 1984
Pus
A C Galsworthy Hong Kong Department
We spoke. It is true that there are likely to be two particularly critical points in the coming months, but in fact from August onwards we are likely to be constantly in
SECRET
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