CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 451
OF 221015Z MARCH 93
CONFIDENTIAL
100672
MDHIAN 4314
TOP COPY Q DIST?
ра
a
22/3.
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG, BTC HONG KONG
FOR RICKETTS, HKD FROM GOVERNOR
7
YRTELNO 178: SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO THE FAR EAST: PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT
1. THERE WILL UNDOUBTEDLY BE THOSE IN HONG KONG WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE A VISIT TO CHINA BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE IN APRIL. BUT IN THE WAKE OF THE CHINESE REFUSAL TO ACCEPT HONG KONG OFFICIALS AS FULL MEMBERS OF THE NEGOTIATING TEAM, THE ATTACKS ON ME AND THE HONG KONG AND BRITISH GOVERNMENTS, AND - PRESUMABLY AN NPC DECISION TO SET UP SOME SORT OF PRE-PREPARATORY COMMITTEE, A VISIT NOW IS NOT AN ATTRACTIVE PROSPECT. A MEETING ON NEUTRAL GROUND WOULD BE EASIER IF THE CHINESE WERE TO SHOW AN INCLINATION FOR TALKS AT THIS LEVEL.
2. IT CANNOT OF COURSE, BE RULED OUT THAT THE CHINESE WILL PROPOSE A VISIT BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO PEKING. IT WOULD NOT BE EASY TO RESPOND NEGATIVELY TO ANY SUCH INVITATION, EVEN IF THE PROSPECT IS UNALLURING. BUT PRECISELY BECAUSE IT IS UNALLURING WE SHOULD NOT STIMULATE IT AND TACTICALLY IT IS IMPORTANT THAT ANY INITIATIVE FOR IT SHOULD COME FROM THE CHINESE. IF WE TAKE STEPS TO FOREWARN THEM ABOUT THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S FAR EAST TRIP IT WILL LOOK AS IF WE ARE FISHING FOR AN INVITATION. IT WILL ALSO ENCOURAGE THEM TO THINK WE ARE PREPARING TO COMPROMISE. MUCH BETTER SURELY TO LET THEM SEE THE ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THEMSELVES AND COME UP WITH AN INITIATIVE IF THEY WISH TO.
3. WITH THE PRESS I SUGGEST THAT, ONCE AN ANNOUNCEMENT IS MADE, WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO USE THE LINE THAT NO ARRANGEMENTS HAVE YET BEEN MADE FOR A MEETING BETWEEN FOREIGN MINISTERS.
4. IT IS NOT HARD TO EXPLAIN WHY THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL NOT VISIT HONG KONG. THE OBVIOUS ANSWER IS THAT I WILL BE RETURNING TO LONDON AND WILL BE SEEING HIM AND THE PRIME MINISTER IN EARLY APRIL.
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22 MAR 1993
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