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TO BE EXCUSED FROM THE BANQUET (EG TO SET UP PRIVATE OFFICE).
6.
THE CHINESE WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR ADVICE ON ANY DIETARY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE BANQUET.
7. THE MFA WILL REVERT ON WHETHER THEY EXPECT AN EXCHANGE OF GIFTS.
PRESS CONFERENCE
8.
THE MFA HAVE PROPOSED THAT THE PRESS CONFERENCE BE HELD AT THE JIANGUO HOTEL OR OTHER VENUE CLOSE TO THE EMBASSY. OUR IMPRESSION (BUT IT IS ONLY AN IMPRESSION) IS THAT THEY MAY BE TRYING TO SET UP A MEETING WITH A SENIOR LEADER BEFORE THE PRESS CONFERENCE AND WHICH WOULD TAKE THE DELEGATION AWAY FROM THE DIAOYUTAI (PRESUMABLY TO ZHONGNANHAI OR THE GREAT HALL OF THE PEOPLE). WE SHALL PRESS THEM TO PROVIDE FIRM DETAILS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. IN ANY CASE THEY DO NOT APPEAR WEDDED TO A DIAOYUTAI BRIEFING SO WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PERSIST WITH THE SHANGRI-LA IF THE ORIGINAL TIMETABLE IS NOT ALTERED AFTER ALL.
9. WE WOULD ALSO WELCOME VIEWS ON HOW FAR TO ACCOMMODATE THE HONG KONG PRESS, WHO ARE LIKELY TO BE PERSISTENT IN SEEKING
DOORSTEP/PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES. WOULD THE SECRETARY OF STATE WISH TO LIMIT SUCH CONTACT TO SPECIFIC PRESS SESSIONS, EG AT AIRPORT AND THE SHANGRI-LA/JIANGUO PRESS CONFERENCE?
BRIEFING SESSION
10. IF THE SECRETARY OF STATE WOULD LIKE A BRIEFING SESSION WE SUGGEST THAT IT BE HELD IN THE EMBASSY'S SAFE-SPEECH ROOM AFTER DINNER ON 8 JULY. THIS WOULD BE ABOUT 21.30 OR 22.00 DEPENDING WHEN THE BANQUET BEGINS. THE ALTERNATIVE WOULD BE AN EARLY MORNING SESSION ON 9 JULY.
PROTOCOL ORDER
GRATEFUL FOR CONFIRMATION OF PROTOCOL ORDER IN VIEW OF HONG
KONG TELNO 1080 TO FCO.
11.
VISAS
12. THE MFA HAVE ASKED FOR A LIST OF ALL PASSPORTS FOR VISA APPLICATION PURPOSES, SO THAT THEIR EMBASSY IN TOKYO CAN BE
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