RESTRICTED
FM BTC HONG KONG
TO TO PRIORITY DTI
RESTRICTED
PA DTI Visits.
this 026 22 RV
332
042157 MDLIAN 1559
RECE
TRY
TELNO OTTER 172
OF 080952Z AUGUST 90
SEP 1990
INFO PRIORITY FCO
OT2/2, DTI,
G
FOR MISS GRAY, OT2/2, DTI, AND HKD AND OVERSEAS INSPECTORATE, FCO
Mr. Sainsbury,
YRTELNO OTTER 182: PROPOSED VISIT BY MINISTER FOR TRADE
1. FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THIS OFFICE THE VISIT BY THE MINISTER
OF TRADE FROM 24 TO 26 SEPTEMBER WOULD BE MANAGEABLE AND OF COURSE
WELCOME. I UNDERSTAND TOO THAT THIS WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE HONG
KONG GOVERNMENT AND THAT THE NEAR CLASH WITH THE VISIT BY MR KING
FROM 20 TO 23 SEPTEMBER WOULD BE UNLIKELY TO CAUSE DIFFICULTIES.
2. THE CONCENTRATION OF VISITORS IN THIS PERIOD IS HOWEVER BECOMING VERY HEAVY. THESE INCLUDE, FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING 17 SEPTEMBER, LORD CAITHNESS, MINISTER OF STATE, FCO, CONSERVATIVE MPS NICHOLAS SOAMES AND JOHN BIFFEN, MR KING, SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE: ALSO A FOOD EXPORT COUNCIL TRADE MISSION, AND IT IS THE FIRST WEEK
OF OUR INSPECTION.
3. IN THE WEEK BEGINNING 24 SEPTEMBER THERE MAY BE MR SAINSBURY, AND AT THE END OF THE WEEK, SIR JAMES CLEMINSON, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOTB. THE FOLLOWING WEEK, BEGINNING 1 OCTOBER, IN ADDITION TO SIR JAMES CLEMINSON'S PROGRAMME, MR MELLOR, MINISTER OF THE ARTS AND CIVIL SERVICE WILL BE VISITING, WHILE THAT WILL BE THE THIRD AND FINAL WEEK OF OUR INSPECTION. THE DEGREE OF OUR INVOLVEMENT WITH THESE VISITS WILL OF COURSE VARY, BUT WE WILL HAVE SOME PART TO PLAY IN MOST OF THEM AND WILL BE VERY HEAVILY INVOLVED WITH THAT OF SIR JAMES CLEMINSON AND, IF HE COMES, THAT OF MR SAINSBURY, WITH THE LOAD BEING FURTHER INCREASED IF THE LATTER IS ACCOMPANIED BY
BUSINESSMEN. I REMAIN CONFIDENT THAT THERE WOULD BE AN ADEQUATE PROGRAMME FOR THEM BOTH, BUT THEY MIGHT NEVERTHELESS BE WARNED THAT OUR RESOURCES WILL BE STRETCHED. THE FCO INSPECTORS SHOULD ALSO APPRECIATE THE EXTENT OF THESE COMMITMENTS DURING THEIR VISIT.
HEAP
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