TNAG-0368-FCO40-414-Visits-of-UK-Government-Ministers-to-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 118

i

Mr Clark Mr Wilford

Mr Grattan

RESTRICTED

Mr CRONSON HK+IOD

FED 1871.

послушивай

amfello

p.aZ

نباشید

19/5

BRITISH INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY EXHIBITION: MR HESELTINE'S VISIT TO CHINA

A

B

1.

The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has accepted

an official Chinese invitation to Peking in March to attend part

of the British Industrial Technology Exhibition, due to take place

from 26 March to 8 April.

2. The Chinese Ambassador has since extended an official

invitation to Mr Heseltine and his wife to pay an official visit

to China, first accompanying the Secretary of State for Trade and

Industry to the Exhibition, and afterwards following his own

programme in Peking. His Private Secretary has written requesting

the Secretary of State's formal approval for these plans ( Miss

Notcutt's letter of 11 January to Mr Grattan attached).

3. We attach great importance to the Exhibition as a high point

in our efforts to promote Britinb exports to China, and as a

significant landmark in our developing relations with the Feople

Republic of China. The Chinese too attach importance to it in the

context of our bilateral relations. It is thus essential that we

be seen to be giving this enterprise the maximum government babk

/4.