RESTRICTED
02715
In Whitney
TO. COPY Q DIST ?
(42
035046 MDLIAN 6109
RESTRICTED
FM BONN
TO ROUTINE HONG KONG
TELNO 001
OF 091025Z SEPTEMBER 93
INFO ROUTINE FCO, FRANKFURT, AMSTERDAM, THE HAGUE, PARIS, BRUSSELS
FOR GOVERNOR
HONG KONG TELNO 1202: GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO EUROPE
1. In accordance with TUR, we have requested calls on Kohl, Kinkel and Rexrodt. So far we have had a response only from Kinkel who is not able to see you in the morning of 16 November but has offered a call in the afternoon. We have accepted this provisionally.
2. You asked for advice on Rexrodt to open the businessman's Lunch. But on checking with your Brussels office we discovered that they had already invited Mr Welteke (Minister for the Economy in Hesse).
3. There is however a general difficulty. Kohl is considering a visit to China (and possibly Hong Kong) during the week you plan to be in Europe. We understand that if he goes Kinkel and Rexrodt will accompany him. Officials say that it is 60% probable that he will decide to go. We are told that a decision will be made by the end of this month. ALL this is in confidence and of son e political sensitivity here.
4. If Kohl decides to go to China I am afraid that with senior ministers and officials away, the Bonn Leg of your tour would be very thin (apart from the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung who have confirmed the Lecture/lunch). The Chancellor will probably take with him a large number of the top businessmen and China hands in the Administration. We can arrange a programme nevertheless to include meeting Volker Ruehe etc, but in the area of substantive interest to Hong Kong, your interlocutors would be the second eleven.
5. I hope very much both of you will stay with me. I would propose on the evening of 15 November to invite politicians, journalists etc for dinner. Subject to your preferences it might make sense to make this a working dinner (i.e. without wives).
1
PAGE
RESTRICTED