CONFIDENTIAL
F
6.
A visit to Peking by the Governor in August would
permit informal and detailed discussions with those on the
Chinese side who understand the issues best (Ji Pengfei and
Lu Ping, but inevitably also Zhou Nan). The Ambassador
supports the proposal (Peking telno 921). Subsequent
Opportunities for contact at Ministerial level will arise in late September, if the Secretary of State and Wu Xueqian
overlap in their visits to the UN General Assembly, and during the State Visit
State Visit to China in October. The Governor
suggests that the next occasion would be a further visit by
himself to Peking, planned for December in another
connection.
We might however wish to arrange earlier
contacts through other channels: oportunities might arise
in the margins of JLG V in Peking in November, or if а
pretext were to be found for Dr wilson to visit Peking on
another occasion during the autumn.
7.
1.
It will be
be tactically preferable for Mr Renton to
volunteer the suggestion of the Governor's visit to Peking
in September whether or not the question of future
exchanges is raised by Zhou Nan. If we take the initiative
on this point it could have the effect of pre-empting, or
at least weakening, a Chinese inclination to come
to come forward
at a later stage with a proposal for discussion in JLG IV.
CO Hum
4 June 1986
Hong Kong Department
/1. The papers
CONFIDENTIAL