GRS 200
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
279
FM PEKING
HKK 02716
RCEIVED IN HEL
TO ROUTINE FCO
TELNO 1699
OF 21/11/85
INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG
22 NOV 1985
VICEH
PA
двет
157
YOUR TELNO 850( NOT TO HONG KONG): MR LUCE
مهستند
1. I WAS GLAS TO NOTE FROM TUR THAT A VISIT MY MR LUCE WAS PROVISIONALLY PLANNED FOR LATE APRIL (AS EASTER SUNDAY IS 30 MARCH, LATE APRIL IS PRESUMABLY LATER THAN THE EASTER RECESS).
NC
2. AS YOU WILL HAVE SEEN FROM PARAGRAPH 2 OF MY TELNO 1397, THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE HAVE ALREADY VOLUNTEERED THEIR HOPE THAT MR LUCE WILL BE ABLE TO VISIT CHINA IN MARCH OR APRIL. EARLIER WE HAD AGREED WITH THEM PROVISIONALLY THAT LORD GOWRIE'S VISIT SHOULD BEGIN 17 APRIL (PARAGRAPH 1 OF MY TEENO 1182). -NR
3. THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE HAVE NOW PRESSED US FOR EARLY CONFIRMATION THAT MR LUCE WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE UP THE INVITATION EXTENDED TO
LORD GOWRIE.
4. I SHOULD WELCOME A VISIT BY MR LUCE AT ANY TIME BEFORE 23 MARCH OR AFTER 6 APRIL. (I HOPE TO TAKE SOME LOCAL LEAVE OVER EASTER. THIS IS THE ONLY TIME WHEN I COULD LEAVE PEKING WITH MY FAMILY BETWEEN THE NEW YEAR AND THE END OF JUNE WITHOUT TAKING MY ELDER SON OUT OF SCHOOL. BUT MR LUCE SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THERE AT PRESENT NO BRITISH CULTURAL EVENTS IN PEKING IN EITHER MARCH OR APRIL WHICH COULD BE LINKED WITH HIS VISIT. THE WEATHER IN APRIL IS MUCH BETTER
THAN IN MARCH.
EVANS
LIMITED
FED
SEAD
HAD
PROTOCOL D
PS MR RENTON
SIR WHARDING
AR WILSON
CONFIDENTIAL