CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
HKB
026 124
034500
MDLIAN 6802
FM PEKING
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 1791
OF 09060OZ OCTOBER 89
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG
Am
HONG KONG FOR POLITICAL ADVISER.
о
HONG KONG TELNO 3326 TO F C O.
POLITICAL ADVISER: VISIT TO PEKING.
TOP COPY
Q DIST ?
1 I HAVE NO OBJECTION TO THE PROPOSED VISIT
Tel out
да вам
11/10
ALTHOUGH THE WEEK
OF 30 OCTOBER IS NOT AN EASY ONE FOR ME. RICHARD EVANS IS STAYING WITH ME UP TO THE 29TH AND LAWRENCE MIDDLETON (OF SEOUL) UNTIL THE
31ST. AND I LEAVE FOR TOKYO MYSELF ON 1 NOVEMBER. IT WOULD BE BEST FROM MY POINT OF VIEW IF EHRMAN COULD ARRIVE ON 29 OCTOBER OR EARLY ON THE 30TH: THEN I WOULD HAVE A CHANCE TO SEE HIM BEFORE LEAVING FOR TOKYO AND COULD INCLUDE HIM IN SOME ENTERTAINMENT
·
I AM PLANNING FOR THE EARLY PART OF THAT WEEK. I AM AFRAID THERE WOULD NOT BE ROOM FOR HIM TO STAY AT THE HOUSE BUT WE WOULD BE
HAPPY TO BOOK A GOOD HOTEL NEARBY.
2. I STRONGLY ADVISE CAUTION AND A LIGHT TOUCH IN HANDLING THIS
VISIT WITH THE CHINESE. IN THE PRESENT CLIMATE NOTHING CAN BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED, NOT EVEN THAT THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS WILL BE WILLING TO RECEIVE EHRMAN IN PEKING. I SUGGEST HE SHOULD
PRESENT HIS VISIT AS AN INTRODUCTORY AND EXPLORATORY ONE, AND AVOID SPELLING OUT (AT LEAST TO START WITH) THE ISSUES HE WANTS TO RAISE.
IF NECESSARY SOME GENERAL FORMULA COULD BE USED ABOUT REVIEWING
ISSUES OF CURRENT CONCERN IN THE JLG AND IN HONG KONG. IT WOULD
IN FACT BE PRUDENT TO RESERVE OUR OWN JUDGEMENT ON THE AGENDA AND HOW TO APPROACH VARIOUS ITEMS UNTIL NEARER THE TIME. SEVERAL
TOPICS (NOTABLY VPBS) COULD TAKE ON QUITE A DIFFERENT COLOUR BY THE
END OF THE MONTH AS A RESULT OF CHINESE RETALIATION OVER YANG YANG.
I AGREE THAT IN ANY CASE CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT IS BEST AVOIDED.
3.
FOR BOTH SUBSTANCE AND PRESENTATION'S SAKE I SUGGEST EHRMAN
SHOULD INCLUDE IN HIS VISIT A COUPLE OF CALLS OF MORE GENERAL
INTEREST, E.G. ON MOFERT AND/OR CITIC TO DISCUSS CHINA/HONG KONG TRADE AND ON THE WESTERN EUROPEAN SIDE OF THE MFA. WE COULD
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