SECRET FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELNO 526
OF 20124OZ MARCH 91
SECRET
258
HKB 182 12
005417
MDHOAN 0190
! RECEWER M
"Y
2 5 MAR 1991
DESK
STAY
INDEX
Taken
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG BIC HONG KONG
257
STRICTLY PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM BURNS, AUSS
(FOR PEKING: PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR)
(FOR UKREP JLG: PERSONAL FOR GALSWORTHY)
(FOR BTC HONG KONG: PERSONAL FOR HEAP)
KONG:
HKC026/2-(66
YOUR TELNO 849 AND PEKING TELNO 347: SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT
TO CHINA
1. YOUR REBUKE IS WELL DESERVED. I AM MORTIFIED THAT THIS SHOULD HAVE SLIPPED PAST IN THIS WAY. I HAVE REITERATED TO ALL CONCERNED THE SECRECY OF THIS EXERCISE. I DO HOPE THAT NOT TOO MUCH DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE.
2.
I WELL RECOGNISE THE VERY REAL DIFFICULTIES WHICH WE MAY BE CAUSING PEKING (SIR A DONALD'S TUR) BY THE DECISION TO DELAY THE ANNOUNCEMENT UNTIL NEXT WEEK. YOU WILL KNOW FROM FCO TELNO 508 (NOT TO ALL) THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS STILL EXTREMELY SENSITIVE TO THE POLITICAL RISK OF GOING TO PEKING AND FINDING EITHER THAT HE IS UNABLE TO BRING HOME A SATISFACTORY AMOUNT OF BACON OR THAT HE BECOMES EMBROILED IN DETAILED NEGOTIATIONS ON ISSUES WHICH ARE SOLELY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.
3. THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE TIMING OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAME DIRECTLY FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE. BUT BECAUSE OF HIS VERY HEAVY TRAVEL PROGRAMME IN RECENT DAYS, WE SIMPLY HAVE NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO OVER WITH HIM THE TACTICS FOR THIS VISIT IN THE DETAIL WE MIGHT HAVE WISHED. WITH HIS PRESENT ABSENCE IN MOSCOW, THE BEST WE CAN HOPE TO DO WILL BE TO PUT A DRAFT STEERING BRIEF AND OTHER PAPERS TO HIM OVER THE WEEKEND ALTHOUGH WE ARE CONSULTING HIS PARTY ABOUT PROGRAMME DETAILS AS MUCH AS WE CAN. THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL BE IN LONDON NEXT WEEK, ALTHOUGH HE WILL PAY TWO VISITS, TO PARIS AND LUXEMBOURG, AND THE OFFICE WILL BE CLOSING DOWN FOR EASTER FROM MID-DAY ON THURSDAY, 28 MARCH. WE SHALL BE MAKING ARRANGEMENTS TO MAN HKD AND FED OVER THE EASTER WEEKEND, THOUGH WE HOPE TO HAVE BROKEN THE BACK OF THE BRIEFING BEFORE.
4.
THE POINTS THAT ALAN DONALD MAKES IN PARAGRAPHS 4 AND 5 OF
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