Pirtty Secretary འཆར་ན
The nimiter agrees
Recommendation
the
HKC 026/15
CONFIDENTIAL
G.J. Dorey 1/9
см
Sentry of State
28 AUG 1992
FROM: N J Cox
سه
1/9
TRIGGER eh.
Hong Kong Dept
DATE: 28 August 1992
Sir J Coles
coles 1.C.8
낱 Miyhu
mináter
cc: Mr Hum o/r
Mr Ricketts o/r
PS/Mr Goodlat/a
Private Secretary
Aug 318
DEALING WITH CHINA ON HONG KONG: VISIT OF SIR EDWARD HEATH
PROBLEM
How to encourage Sir Edward Heath to take a helpful line on Hong Kong, when he visits Peking in late September.
1.
RECOMMENDATION
That the Secretary of State should offer to brief Sir Edward
Heath. The Governor agrees.
2.
A
B
BACKGROUND AND ARGUMENT
3.
Sir Edward Heath plans to visit Peking around 23 September. This is a crucial moment for our Hong Kong strategy, a few days before the Governor's Legco speech on 7 October which will set out his ideas on constitutional development, and just before the Secretary of State's meeting with Qian Qichen in New York.
4.
The Chinese see Sir Edward as "an old friend". He will have
top-level access in Peking. With Mr Goodlad's approval we therefore consulted the Governor and the Embassy in Peking about how the visit might best promote British interest regarding Hong Kong. They agree that it would be helpful if Sir Edward could be induced to tell Chinese leaders that Mr Patten is someone
whom he respects and whom they should take at his word: that he wishes to have a close working relationship with senior Chinese officials and is willing to speak frankly to them once such a
heath.sub/VISITBREIF
CONFIDENTIAL