CONFIDENTIAL
HKK 040/57.
67
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
14 NOV 1984
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Agon Takeri
November, 1984
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Dear charles,
CA 1411
Signature of the Hong Kong Agreement: Sir Y K Pao
He
Sir Y K Pao has told the Governor of Hong Kong that he would very much like to be invited to the ceremony when the Hong Kong agreement is signed in Peking. said he had suggested to the Chinese that "distinguished persons" should be invited to the ceremony. The Chinese had seemed to be taken by the idea, but had said that they would need to check with the British side. Sir Y K told the Governor that he would raise this matter with the Prime Minister when he sees her later this month.
The Prime Minister will remember that Sir Y K Pao sought systematically to occupy the centre of the stage during her last visit to Peking, and caused considerable embarrassment. On that occasion he had a somewhat tenuous connection, in that the Prime Minister was to launch one of his ships in Shanghai. On this occasion he has no connection at all. He played no part in the negotiations, and indeed he has not been associated in any way with the administration of Hong Kong. It would give quite a false impression in Hong Kong if Sir Y K were to play a part at the signature and would not be understood there.
Sir Geoffrey Howe therefore believes that we should seek to discourage Sir Y K Pao from pursuing this idea and that we should instruct HM Ambassador Peking to tell the Chinese, if they were to propose it (they have not done so so far), that to invite Sir Y K would be liable to be misunderstood in Hong Kong. I attach a draft telegram which, if the Prime Minister agrees, will be sent to Peking and Hong Kong.
C D Powell Esq 10 Downing Street
CONFIDENTIAL
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Ricketts
(P F Ricketts) Private Secretary