CONFIDENTIAL AND PERSONAL
HK) (ow. Michelt)
Sir I call to. I
J.C.
From:
Sir John Coles
Thank you.
No rush
Date:
29 January 1993
CC:
ка
Mr Davies, FED Mr Ricketts, HKD
29/1
Private Secretary Private
POSSIBLE VISIT BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO PEKING
1.
We spoke yesterday.
I have since seen your minute of 28 January to Mr Hum (who is abroad until 8 February) asking whether developments in Hong Kong would have moved on by the Whitsun recess to the point where a visit to Peking made more sense.
2.
My interim reply is that it is very difficult to forecast that now. I see no good reason to think that we shall be nearer to agreement with the Chinese on the constitutional proposals except that more time will have
passed.
3.
But I should prefer to delay a considered reply until Mr Hum has seen the Governor of Hong Kong on
5 February, when the question of the visit to Peking will naturally arise. If you need an earlier reply please let
me know.
John Wole.
Sir John Coles
CONFIDENTIAL AND PERSONAL