CONFIDENTIAL
142173
MDHOAN 8135
THIS RESPONSE IS UNLIKELY TO COME AS ANY SURPRISE TO THE CHINESE.
PROGRAMME
5. WE ENVISAGE THAT THERE WOULD BE MEETINGS WITH LI PENG (PRECEDING THE AIRPORT MOU SIGNING CEREMONY), JIANG ZEMIN AND PRESIDENT YANG SHANGKUN. WE ASSUME THAT THESE SUBSTANTIVE ELEMENTS OF THE PROGRAMME WOULD BE ON 3 SEPTEMBER. THE PRIME MINISTER WOULD BE CONTENT TO ATTEND A BANQUET ON THE EVENING OF 2 SEPTEMBER AND TO GIVE A RETURN BANQUET (WE ASSUME AT YOUR RESIDENCE) ON 3 SEPTEMBER.
6.
BEYOND THE FORMAL ELEMENTS, THE PRIME MINISTER WOULD BE HAPPY TO MEET A REPRESENTATIVE GROUP OF BRITISH RESIDENTS IN PEKING (INCLUDING BUSINESSMEN) AND MEET A GROUP OF RETURNED BRITISH COUNCIL SCHOLARS. TIME WILL ALSO HAVE TO BE FOUND FOR A PRESS CONFERENCE. THE PRIME MINISTER WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THE MORNING OF 4 SEPTEMBER FREE FOR SIGHT-SEEING INCLUDING THE GREAT WALL AND IF POSSIBLE THE MING TOMBS. THIS MIGHT SLIGHTLY DELAY THE DEPARTURE FOR HONG KONG. IF TIME PERMITTED, IT MIGHT ALSO BE POSSIBLE TO FIT IN A BRIEF VISIT TO THE FORBIDDEN CITY ON 3 SEPTEMBER.
7. SUBJECT TO CONFIRMATION FROM NO 10 WE EXPECT THAT THE PRIME MINISTER WOULD LIKE A BRIEFING MEETING WITH YOU AND THE GOVERNOR ON 2 SEPTEMBER.
MRS MAJOR'S PROGRAMME
8 =
MRS MAJOR WOULD LIKE TO TAKE PART IN SIGHT-SEEING WITH THE PRIME MINISTER, AND WOULD LIKE TO VISIT THE FORBIDDEN CITY. IN ADDITION, NO 10 SAY SHE WOULD BE INTERESTED TO SEE PART OF A CHINESE OPERA IN REHEARSAL AND PERHAPS MEET SOME OF THOSE INVOLVED IN THE PRODUCTION AND PERFORMANCE. (A VISIT TO THE OPERA SCHOOL MIGHT ACHIEVE THIS). SHE HAS NO PARTICULAR WISH TO VISIT SCHOOLS OR OTHER ARTS AND CRAFTS ESTABLISHMENTS, BUT WOULD CONSIDER A VISIT TO A SCHOOL IF IT HAD A PARTICULARLY BRITISH CONNECTION. SHE WOULD BE HAPPY TO MEET EMBASSY OR OTHER BRITISH WIVES IN PEKING. SHE HAS ALSO EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN SEEING THE TERRACOTTA WARRIORS. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR ANY OTHER PROPOSALS YOU MIGHT HAVE, EG ADDITIONAL SIGHT-SEEING.
9.
THE PRIME MINISTER IS CONTENT TO STAY IN THE DIAOYUTAI STATE
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