30
GRS 200.
CONFIDENT·KAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 660
OF 031015Z MARCH 86
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
CONFIDENTIAL
TOP COPY
FOLLOWING PEPSONAL FOR GALSWORTHY, HONG KONG DEPARTMENT FROM
GOVERNOR
MY TELNO 619 AND YOUR TELNO 396 : WU XUEQIAN
1. THE PRIME OBJECT OF THE EXERCISE IS TO CAPITALISE ON THE
PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP ESTABLISHED BETWEEN THE SECRETARY OF STATE
AND WU XUEQIAN. THE SECRETARY OF STATE NOTED THE VALUE OF THIS
PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP AND ITS RELEVANCE TO THIS EXERCISE IN MY
DISCUSSION WITH HIM AND MR RENTON. A PERSONAL MEETING BETWEEN THE
TWO IS THEREFORE A KEY AND IF THIS CANNOT BE ACHIEVED WE WILL HAVE
TO THINK AGAIN. IN MY VIEW WE MUST AT ALL COSTS AVOID LAUNCHING
THIS EXERCISE WITH ZHOU NAN.
2. AGREE THAT WE WOULD BE WISE TO AVOID TELLING THE CHINESE THAT
WE HAVE SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO DISCUSS TOO EARLY. THEY WILL SIMPLY
PRESS FOR AN INDICATION IN ADVANCE OF THE SUBJECT AND PURPORT OF
THE APPROACH: AND AGAIN THE EXERCISE COULD GO OFF AT HALF COCK.
3. SUBJECT TO THE AMBASSADOR'S VIEWS, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IN THE
LIGHT OF YOUR TELEGRAM ALL THATN CAN BE DONE IS TO CONVEY TO WU
AT THE APPROPRIATE POINT AN INVITATION IN GENEPAL TERMS. THIS MIGHT
BE ALONG THE LINES THAT, SINCE THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND WU HAVE
NOT NET SINCE LAST SEPTEMBER AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE ATTACHES
IMPORTANCE TO KEEPING IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH HIM, IF ON HIS
EUROPEAN TRAVELS HE WERE ABLE TO PASS THROUGH LONDON FOR A GENERAL
CHAT, THE SECRETARY OF STATE WOULD BE HAPPY TO SEE HIM. WE CANNOT
EXCLUDE THAT THE CHINSE THEMSELVES MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO TAKE UP
WITH US AND WU MIGHT WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THIS CONTACT
IN ADVANCE OF HU YAOBANG'S VISIT (IF ONLY TO ENSURE THAT NO
SURPRISES WOULD BE SPRUNG ON HU YAOBANG WITH UNPREDICATBLE
CONSEQUENCES FOR THEM).
YOUDE
LIMITED
HKD
FED
HKK 027/4 RECEIVED IN RECISTRY 4 MAR 1986
STRY
PA
mierta Tuker
PS
PS/MR RENTON
HR
Ps Pus
MR WILSON
SiR W. HARDING
A64%
CONFIDENTIAL
THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT ADVANCED