HKD 026/13.
Mr Mogris" Моя
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Mr Bunk of
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CC:
PS/Mr Goodlad
FROM: C O Hum
DATE: 5 October 1992
Sir J Coles
Mr Davies, FED o.r. Mr Ricketts, HKD Protocol Dept News Dept
MR GOODLAD'S PROPOSED VISIT TO CHINA AND HONG KONG: JANUARY 1993
1. Mr Davies's submission of 2 October reflects discussion with Mr Ricketts and myself, and I agree with the ideas which he puts forward.
2. where the Minister's programme in China is concerned, his visit may well come at a time when our difficult exchanges with the Chinese over Hong Kong constitutional issues (and possibly over the airport as well) are still continuing. In these circumstances the Minister's discussions with the Chinese leaders and with Lu Ping will have particular importance. the Chinese are likely to want to use the Governor/Lu Ping channel for detailed negotiation.
But
3. I very much hope that the Minister will have time to visit Canton as well as Peking, for a number of reasons:
I think it would be helpful for him to see for himself the economic and commercial dynamism of Southern China and the extent to which this is fuelled by Hong Kong;
- we have a number of specific commercial interests in the area, in particular our interest in the Canton metro project. The next few months are likely to be crucial for our chances of participation in the project, and a demonstration of Ministerial involvement would be a valuable card to play;
- it will probably be early in the New Year when Ministers have to consider whether, despite current spending constraints, we should open a Consulate-General in Canton.
4. Where other destinations in the South are concerned, Kunming is picturesque (scenery, temples, national minorities) and would offer a more traditional contrast to the modernity of Canton. Another possibility, if the Minister preferred to concentrate on the new face of Southern China, would be to look at the scope for a visit to one of the other boom towns on the South Eastern seaboard such as Fuzhou or Xiamen.
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5. I agree with the idea that on this occasion the visit to Hong Kong should be relatively short. A longer programme would be likely to involve the Minister in potentially tricky discussion of his exchanges in Peking.
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CO Hum
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File.
131
VISIT BY MR GOODLAD TO INDONESIA, 12 15 OCTOBER
Points to Make
We
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Reports indicate that general confidence in Hong Kong is
higher than it has been for some years.
-
Chris Patten has a vital job to do at a crucial time.
Confident he will do it well. His political experience and
seniority will be to Hong Kong's advantage.
Useful if you can take opportunities with Chinese to emphasise importance you attach to Hong Kong's continued stability and prosperity as set out in the Joint Declaration.
fea
HKD 026/13
0.001992
glad.points.btc
JEB
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