CONFIDENTIAL
1
HICD 026/2.
15 JUi 1993
M716
FROM:
Mr Goodlad
DATE:
3 June 1993.
FCO Ministers PS/PUS
CC:
Mr Marris Mr Bunk
My Whitney 816 Ms Banner - Janes Blo Mike Saya (or) Thanks to all in He Jed who
worked on this visit
Secretary of State
アル
P
Sir John Coles
Mr Appleyard
Mr Hum
Mr Ricketts, HKD
Mr Fry, FED
Mr Wilkinson, Planners Ms Everett, News Dept Special Advisers PS/Governor, Hong Kong A C Glasworthy, Esq,
CMG, UKREP JLG, Hong Kong
J Smith-Laittan, Esq,
BCC, Hong Kong
MY VISIT TO HONG KONG: 29 MAY 1 JUNE 1993
1. I have just returned from my third visit to Hong Kong as Minister of State. As always, I am extremely grateful to the Governor and Lavender Patten for their hospitality and to the Governor and his staff for the excellent programme which they organised. The roles played by James Smith-Laitten and his staff (especially Chris Osborne) and Tony Galsworthy were also much appreciated.
2. My visits to Hong Kong are important, for several reasons. There is symbolic value in the Minister of State responsible for Hong Kong putting in regular appearances to demonstrate HMG's continuing close interest in and engagement in Hong Kong. Such appearances need not be tied to special events or announcements: indeed, it is preferable if they are not. My visits also provide me with a good impression of the background atmospherics to the debate on Hong Kong's future in a way which the telegrams alone simply cannot give. Finally, they enable me to have a thorough exchange of views with the Governor.
3.
The mood in Hong Kong generally is buoyant, in all quarters. The business community is bullish and expects that the Hang Seng index will soon go through the 8000 point level
Most (only recently having exceeded 7000 for the first time). people are only too pleased that we are now talking to the Chinese, though a few are now bickering over the details and over being left out of the loop (see below). The Governor's popularity among ordinary people remains quite extraordinarily high, as I witnessed on a joint visit to the Tsuen Wan district (where I kissed more babies than I have done for many a year). Morale in Government House (and in the British Trade Commission and UKREP JLG) seems excellent.
CONFIDENTIAL
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