CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO PRIORITY PEKING
TELNO 632
OF 131843Z JUNE 91
CONFIDENTIAL
ра
HK B
tli
150420
MDLOAN 4480
027/1
ED
FOLLOWING TELEGRAM NOW REPEATED TO YOU AT REQUEST OF HKD WAS
SENT TO HONG KONG TELNO 1121 OF 12153OZ JUNE 91
103
YOUR TELNO 1866: YOUR VISIT TO LONDON
1.
EDWARD BICKHAM HAS BEEN A SPECIAL ADVISER TO THE SECRETARY
OF STATE SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR AND HAS PREVIOUSLY
SERVED IN THAT CAPACITY IN THE NORTHERN IRELAND OFFICE AND THE
HOME OFFICE. WE ARE FAXING TO YOU HIS CV. HE VISITED BOTH CHINA AND HONG KONG BRIEFLY IN 1979.
2. THE PALACE HAVE NO OBJECTION TO YOUR MAKING KNOWN IN ADVANCE YOUR AUDIENCE WITH THE QUEEN. HOWEVER, NEWS DEPARTMENT ARE INCLINED TO THINK THAT IT WOULD BE EASIER TO AVOID THE KIND OF SPECULATION YOU MENTION, FOR WHICH HONG KONG STRINGERS IN LONDON WOULD BE A PRIME SOURCE, IF THERE WAS NO ADVANCE ANNOUNCEMENT AND IT COULD BE PRESENTED AFTER THE EVENT AS ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF A SUCCESSFUL VISIT. THE NEWS WOULD NOT BE LIKELY TO BREAK HERE IN ADVANCE. BUT WE ARE CONTENT FOR YOU TO DECIDE. IF YOU DO DECIDE TO LET THE AUDIENCE BECOME KNOWN BEFORE YOUR DEPARTURE, GRATEFUL FOR ADVANCE WARNING.
3.
THERE IS NO OBJECTION TO YOUR MAKING KNOWN, IN THE WAY YOU SUGGEST, YOUR MEETING WITH THE PRIME MINISTER. IF QUESTIONED, WE WOULD PROPOSE TO TAKE THE FOLLOWING LINE:
''THE GOVERNOR IS ON ONE OF HIS REGULAR VISITS TO THE UK, AND WILL BE TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY TO CALL ON THE PRIME
MINISTER. THE PRIME MINISTER TAKES A CLOSE INTEREST IN HONG KONG AND THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MR
MAJOR TO BE BROUGHT UP TO DATE ON CURRENT ISSUES AND FEELINGS THERE''.
QUOTE (IF ASKED) NOT UNUSUAL FOR THE GOVERNOR TO CALL ON THE PRIME MINISTER. CALL ARRANGED BY MUTUAL AGREEMENT UNQUOTE.
HURD