SECRET
103764
MDHOAN 7393
SECRET
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 18233OZ HONG KONG
TELNO 1323
OF 18160OZ JULY 91
TOP COPT QIDIST?
нид ого
HKD
RECEIVED IN
DES
1 AUG199
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM COX, HKD
VISIT BY PRIME MINISTER AND SECRETARY OF STATE
1.
BECAUSE OF OTHER SENSITIVE PLANS, THE LATEST THINKING HERE
IS THAT THE PRIME MINISTER WILL ARRIVE IN PEKING ON SATURDAY 31 AUGUST AND WILL NOT (NOT) BE ABLE TO STOP IN HONG KONG ON HIS WAY. HE WOULD OF COURSE STILL WISH TO VISIT HONG KONG AFTER THE PEKING VISIT.
·
IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES THE SECRETARY OF STATE COULD TRAVEL SEPARATELY THROUGH HONG KONG FOR CONSULTATIONS WITH YOU AND EXCO CAND A PRESS CONTACT) BEFORE FLYING UP TO PEKING ON 31 AUGUST. PRIVATE OFFICE WONDER WHETHER ARRIVAL ON BA35 AT 1115 ON 30 AUGUST WOULD BE THE BEST OPTION. GIVEN THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S TWO VISITS IN APRIL AND THE DISSOLUTION OF LEGCO WE THINK THIS SHOULD BE AMPLE. (INDEED, AT A PINCH, ARRIVAL AT 1700 ON 30 AUGUST BY THE LESS TIRING CX250 MIGHT STILL ALLOW ENOUGH TIME FOR THE CORE ELEMENTS.) BUT HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO ARRIVE ON THE EVENING OF 29 AUGUST IF YOU ADVISED THIS. 3. GRATEFUL YOUR VIEWS DESKBY 1908OOZ.
HURD
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
17
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
DISTRIBUTION
17
PS
PS/LORD CAITHNESS
MR BURNS
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