CONFIDENTIAL
FM PEKING
TO DESKBY 13090OZ F C O
TELNO 873
OF 130743Z JUNE 91
CONFIDENTIAL
Mi's 02711
(114
114/
145655
MDHIAN 0941
RECE
26 JUN 1991
TOP COP:
ED
Q
9 DIST?
Tog
YOUR TELNO 623?
1.
HONG KONG MINISTERIAL MEETINGS
I CAN CANCEL COMMITMENTS WITHOUT TOO MUCH DIFFICULTY HERE. I WOULD PROPOSE TO TRAVEL TO LONDON ON A FLIGHT ARRIVING ON THE MORNING OF SUNDAY 23 JUNE. I WOULD THEN BE AVAILABLE FOR ANY PREPARATORY MEETINGS IN THE OFFICE ON 24 JUNE. IDEALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO RETURN ON WEDNESDAY 26 JUNE BUT THE ONLY DIRECT FLIGHT (FINNAIR) IS FULL. (I WOULD PREFER NOT TO TRAVEL VIA HONG KONG, WHICH ADDS 6 7 HOURS TO THE FLYING TIME). I HAVE A PROVISIONAL RETURN BOOKING FOR THURSDAY 27 JUNE.
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2. IF IT IS AGREED THAT I SHOULD RETURN I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR THE AUTHORITY TO TELL THE MFA, PREFERABLY TOMORROW, 14 JUNE. THIS WOULD GIVE ME A REASON TO PRESS FOR CALLS ON QIAN QICHEN (WHO IS DUE TO RETURN TO CHINA ON 15 JUNE) AND LU PING BEFORE MY DEPARTURE. IT MIGHT ALSO LEAD THE CHINESE TO EXPEDITE A REPLY TO THE PRIME MINSTER'S MESSAGE.
3. I SHOULD ALSO LIKE TO LET THE BRITISH PRESS LOCALLY KNOW THAT I SHALL BE RETURNING TO LONDON. IF I COULD DO THIS EARLY NEXT WEEK IT WOULD HELP AVOID THE IMPRESSION THAT I HAVE BEEN SUMMONED TO A CRISIS ''SUMMIT''. WE WOULD SAY SIMPLY THAT MINISTERS
WISHED TO REVIEW DEVELOPMENTS ON A NUMBER OF FRONTS DURING THE
GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO LONDON AND HAD ASKED ME TO RETURN AT THE SAME TIME.
4. GRATEFUL FOR REPLY DESKBY 14003OZ.
MCLAREN
YYYY
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