CONFIDENTIAL
75653 - 1
WE THINK THE PRESENCE OF THE CHARGE WOULD MEET ZHOU NAN'S WISH
FOR THE OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF HMG TO ATTEND YOUR MEETINGS IN
PEKING.
7.
WE WELCOME YOUR PLANS TO VISIT LONDON IN JANUARY, APRIL,
SEPTEMBER AND NOVEMBER. WE IMAGINE THAT YOUR VISIT ON LEAVE IN
JULY (WHICH LIKE THIS YEAR COULD COINCIDE WITH A MEETING OF THE
JOINT LIAISON GROUP) WILL PROBABLY NOT INVOLVE SUCH EXTENSIVE
CONSULTATIONS.
8.
MIFT SETS OUT A TIMETABLE COVERING THE MAIN VISITS AND
CONTACTS FOR NEXT YEAR, AS WE SEE THEM AT PRESENT. IT IS VERY
PROVISIONAL AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE AS EVENTS DEVELOP.
9.
FINALLY THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS COMMENTED THAT HE
CONTINUES TO BELIEVE THAT ZHOU NAN SHOULD BE INVITED SOON TO
VISIT HONG KONG, RREFERABLY ON A SUITABLE PRETEXT, FOR INSTANCE
AS PART OF A LONGER OVERSEAS TRIP. HE DOES NOT AGREE THAT WE
SHOULD WAIT UNTIL 1988 BEFORE INVITING ZHOU NAN TO HONG KONG.
HIS OWN VIEW IS THAT HE CANNOT REASONABLY GO THROUGH ANOTHER
INTERVIEW WITH HIM WIHTOUT INVITING HIM TO VISIT THE TERRITORY.
HE RECOGNISES THAT THERE ARE HAZARDS: BUT HE DOES NOT BELIEVE
THAT IT IS LIKELY TO BE ANY EASIER TO FACE THEM IN 1988. IT
WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE YOUR VIEWS. ONE POSSIBILITY WOULD BE TO
TRY TO GET ZHOU TO HONG KONG EARLY NEXT YEAR BEFORE THE 1987
REVIEW IS UNDER WAY, SO AS TO LESSEN THE RISK THAT HE MIGHT
INTERVENE, OR BE PERCEIVED AS INTERVENING, IN THE CONSULTATION
EXERCISE.
10.
IT WOULD ALSO BE WORTH CONSIDERING AS A SEPARATE ISSUE
WHETHER THERE MIGHT BE LESS QUOTE POLITICAL UNQUOTE SENIOR
CHINESE FIGURES, PERHAPS ON THE ECONOMIC OR FINANCIAL SIDE, WHO
MIGHT BE INVITED. THE AIM WOULD BE LESS TO USE THEM AS A CHANNEL
FOR DIALOGUE ON CENTRAL ISSUES THAN TO EDUCATE THEM MORE
GENERALLY ON HONG KONG. WE SHOULD WELCOME YOUR VIEWS ON POSSIBLE
CANDIDATES IN DUE COURSE.
HOWE
OCMIAN 5653
LIMITED
HKD
FED
PS
PS/MR. RENTON PS/PUS
MR.GILLMORE MR. WILSON
3.
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