RESTRICTED
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 1576
OF 0218OOZ SEPTEMBER 91
RESTRICTED
HKD
020/21
&
©
056677 MDHOAN 9764
fier.
YOUR TELNO'S 2728 AND 2729: VISIT OF MRS THATCHER
1.
MANY THANKS FOR THE DRAFT OUTLINE PROGRAMME AND COMMENTS. MRS THATCHER'S OFFICE HAVE OBTAINED THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS FROM HER PARTY AT PRESENT IN TOKYO:
2.
MRS THATCHER IS GRATEFUL FOR THE ARRANGEMENTS. SHE QUITE UNDERSTANDS ABOUT YOUR LUNCH ENGAGEMENT ON 12 SEPTEMBER, AND IS HAPPY TO HAVE A QUIET LUNCH AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE. SHE HAS ASKED IF ANYONE ELSE WOULD BE PRESENT, AND HAS SAID THAT IN PARTICULAR IF LORD GLENARTHUR WOULD BE FREE FOR LUNCH SHE WOULD BE PLEASED TO SEE HIM.
3
THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE HELICOPTER TOUR LOOK FINE. HER OFFICE HAVE SAID THAT HER PARTY WERE PARTICULARLY KEEN THAT THE HELICOPTER SHOULD LEAVE FROM HMS TAMAR AND RETURN TO HMS TAMAR FOR THE VISIT, BUT DID NOT SAY WHY. (WE POINTED OUT THAT THE COMMERCIAL HELIPORT WAS IN ANY CASE ADJACENT TO TAMAR). THEY ARE CONTENT TO LEAVE TO YOU WHETHER THERE IS TIME TO FIT IN A MORE DETAILED
BRIEFING ON THE AIRPORT, WITH MODEL PLANS.
4.
HER OFFICE HAD NO FURTHER INSIGHTS INTO WHAT ASPECT OF TAMAR MRS THATCHER IS INTERESTED IN. (BUT MARK THATCHER IS DUE TO MAKE A RECCE VISIT TO HONG KONG ON 5-6 SEPTEMBER. WE HAVE SUGGESTED HE MIGHT MAKE CONTACT WITH GOVERNMENT HOUSE WHICH COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CLARIFY THIS POINT, AND ALSO WHY THEY WISH TO DEPART FROM AS WELL AS RETURN TO TAMAR.)
5.
APOLOGIES FOR THE MISINFORMATION IN OUR TELNO 1557. WE HAVE NOW LEARNT THAT THE DINNER ON 12 SEPTEMBER WAS ALWAYS SCHEDULED TO BE HOSTED BY ZHOU NAN. (COMMENT: AS MRS THATCHER'S OFFICE ARE NOT ARRANGING THE PROGRAMME THEY HAVE NOT ALWAYS HAD A CLEAR AND COMPLETE VIEW OF THE ARRANGEMENTS, SEE ALSO PARAS 6 AND 7 BELOW).
6 =
MRS THATCHER IS GRATEFUL FOR THE OFFER OF LUNCH ON
1
PAGE
RESTRICTED