CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG TELNO 794
OF 24120OZ APRIL 91
pa Governor's Visits HKB 027/1
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM PAUL, HKD
YOUR NEXT VISIT TO LONDON
137315 MDLOAN 9481
TOP COPY Q DIST?
1. DURING OUR RECENT VISIT TO HONG KONG, BOTH ANDREW BURNS AND I TOUCHED ON THE QUESTION OF WHETHER YOU SHOULD CONTINUE TO PLAN ON RETURNING TO LONDON FOR CONSULTATIONS IN JUNE.
2.
OUR VIEW IS THAT IT WOULD MAKE SENSE FOR YOU TO CONTINUE TO PLAN ON A VISIT IN THE WEEK BEGINNING 24 JUNE. IT IS OF COURSE IMPOSSIBLE TO PREDICT AT THIS STAGE WHERE MATTERS WILL THEN STAND ON THE AIRPORT AND RELATED ISSUES. BUT WE CAN BE REASONABLY CERTAIN THAT THERE WOULD BE DIFFICULT AND SENSITIVE PROBLEMS TO DISCUSS AND THAT CONSULTATIONS WOULD BE WORTHWHILE.
3.
ACCORDINGLY, WE HAVE CHECKED AGAIN MINISTERS' DIARIES FOR THE WEEK IN QUESTION. THE PRESENT POSITION IS AS FOLLOWS:
(A) SECRETARY OF STATE
24 JUNE:
UNAVAILABLE
25 JUNE:
POSSIBLE
26 JUNE: FREE
27 JUNE: FREE
YOU)
28 JUNE: UNAVAILABLE
(B) LORD CAITHNESS
24-28 JUNE (PENCILLED IN: TIME WILL BE KEPT AVAILABLE FOR
4. I THOUGHT IT MIGHT ALSO BE HELPFUL TO CHECK THE POSITION ON THE PREVIOUS WEEK. THIS IS NOT SO GOOD FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S POINT OF VIEW. HE IS ABROAD ON 17 19 AND 20 JUNE AND ON AN AREA TOUR ON 21 JUNE. MID-MORNING ON 18 JUNE IS A POSSIBILITY. LORD CAITHNESS IS FREE THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 21 JUNE.
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