TNAG-0742-FCO40-946-Relations-between-China-and-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 208

CONFIDENTIAL

R C Samuel Esq

Far Eastern Department

F CO

VISIT TO PEKING

antill

WQ

20 April, 1978

1725/4.

Jel Akko20|1.

IN"

M. Re 201m f

With the Governor's approval, and Emrys Davies' agreement, I am planning to make my first visit to Peking next month, leaving here on 13 May and returning on the 21st. I shall give myself two nights and a full day in Canton on the way back so that the local foreign affairs people can pick me up if they wish, as they did when Alan Donald went.

2.

I have had to wait until Iain Orr was well installed before planning to go. I then had to delay because it did not seem fair to add to Teddy Youde's problems by going during his last few weeks. To wait however until Percy Cradock has had time to work himself in might have meant too long a delay. These are the considerations which have governed the timing of the visit. I would then hope to go again in the autumn.

By

3.

Are there any particular points you would wish me to mention, or to avoid, if I meet the foreign affairs people in Canton? I will probably want to say something about our long-term need for more water and about the problem of the increasing number of legal immigrants. then we should also be clear about the London attitude towards the question of non-scheduled flights between Hong Kong and Canton if this is mentioned. Chinese representation. in Hong Kong is, I hope, temporarily on ice but I would stick to the previous line if it is raised, coupled with the remark that such a major issue would be one for Peking and London and not one to be dealt with on my local net. Is there anything else?

(D C Wilson)

сс

JAB Stewart Esq OBE (HKGD FCO) ET Davies Esq (PEKING)

CONFIDENTIAL

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