Mr Hewitt SEAD
CONFIDENTIAL
FROM: P F Ricketts
Hong Kong Department
DATE: 1 July 1992
cc: Mr Hum
Miss Howley,
Protocol Department
VISIT BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO SOUTH EAST ASIA: 28-29
JULY
1.
16
Our telegram number 179 to Kuala Lumpur (attached) proposes that the Secretary of State should leave Hong Kong on the morning of 28 July and fly either to Kuala Lumpur or Singapore. Could I inject the thought at this stage that there is a strong case for the Secretary of State staying on in Hong Kong long enough on 28 July to attend the regular meeting of the Executive Council that morning. In practice that means that his departure from Hong Kong would be delayed until about 11.00 (ie he would attend ExCo 09.30-10.30, then leave for the airport). I realise that this cuts into the time available for a visit to Kuala Lumpur or Singapore. for the Secretary of State to have been in Hong Kong and to leave just at the time of the ExCo meeting would look odd. It would mean that the Governor would have to summon a special meeting of ExCo the previous evening, probably over dinner, which reduces the Secretary of State's chances to meet a wider range of Hong Kong politicians.
But
2.
We will be discussing all this with Mr Patten. But I hope we can hold open the option of a morning meeting with ExCo on 28 July. I note that Kuala Lumpur Telno 304 envisages talks starting there on the afternoon of 28 July, which ought to be feasible with an 11.00 departure by charter plane from Hong Kong.
Rachette
PF Ricketts
ARD 26/14
MAXAMG
CONFIDENTIAL
مره
18