:
CONFIDENTIAL
FM PEKING
TO FLASHF CO
TELNO 2243
OF 300804Z DECEMBER 89
INFO FLASH HONG KONG
CONFIDENTIAL
42
HKCD 340/18
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
15 JAN 1990
156246
MOHIAN 0891
DESK OFFICER INDEX
REGISTRY
РА
Action TakeN
,
FOLLOWING FOR MCLAREN, AUSS
ACTING HEAD OF HONG KONG DEPARTMENT AND NEWS DEPARTMENT
MIPT:
1. I WAS SUMMONED TO THE FOREIGN MINISTRY AT 11.30 AM (LOCAL TIME) ON 30 DECEMBER TO SEE GUO FENGMIN.
2.
I WAS TOLD THAT THE PURPOSE WAS TO DISCUSS THE GOVERNOR'S FORTHCOMING VISIT TO CHINA, ALTHOUGH THE OFFICIAL WHO CONFIRMED THE APPOINTMENT EARLIER IN THE DAY DESCRIBED IT AS AN EMERGENCY
MEETING''.
3. GUO FENGMIN REFERRED TO THE GOVERNOR'S SUGGESTION THAT HE MIGHT VISIT PEKING BETWEEN 10 AND 12 JANUARY. DUE TO ''SOME TECHNICAL REASONS'' THE FINAL ANSWER HAD BEEN DELAYED, FOR WHICH GUO FENGMIN APOLOGISED. HOWEVER, HE WAS IN A POSITION TO SAY THAT VICE-MINISTER ZHOU NAN INVITED THE GOVERNOR TO VISIT PEKING BETWEEN 10 AND 12 JANUARY. (COMMENT: PLEASE NOTE HOST). IF LADY WILSON WOULD LIKE TO COME AS WELL, SHE WOULD BE WARMLY WELCOME. HE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE MAIN ISSUES WHICH WERE ON THE GOVERNOR'S MIND AS FAR IN ADVANCE AS POSSIBLE. THE FOREIGN MINISTRY WERE MAKING ACTIVE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE PROGRAMME BUT IF THERE WERE ANY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS I HAD ONLY TO ASK. IT WAS PLANNED THAT THE MINISTRY AND A MEMBER OF MY STAFF (PIGOTT) WOULD DISCUSS THE DETAILS LATER IN THE DAY. (SEE MY IFT)
4. I CONFIRMED THAT 10 12 JANUARY WERE THE DAYS WHICH THE GOVERNOR HAD IN MIND. I REITERATED THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO MAKE THE VISIT A SUCCESS. THERE WAS A NEED TO CONCENTRATE ON THE POINTS IN COMMON BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES. THERE WERE DIFFICULT AREAS AT PRESENT (E.G. VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE AND THEIR MANDATORY REPATRIATION, THE NATIONALITY PACKAGE, THE QUESTION OF DIRECT ELECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATURE) BUT I HOPED THAT THE GOVERNOR WOULD BE ABLE TO GO BACK WITH A REASSURING MESSAGE TO THE HONG KONG PEOPLE. IT WAS IMPORTANT TO CONCENTRATE ON THE POINTS OF COMMON
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