TNAG-0748-FCO40-952-Visits-of-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-officials-to-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 5

CODE 18-77

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Reference......

110.51 See

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27 December

REGISTRY

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Mr Bone

Research Dept

1.

No

Action Taten

F 11/12

See (92)

Five

I am glad you are plaming to visit the Far East and agree that it would be right to include Seoul as well as Peking and Tokyo. But I doubt if it would be possible to acquire much familiarity with Korea and Japan on the basis of two days each, particularly towards the end of a long and tiring journey. to six days in China would be all right: I would suggest Shanghai (two days) and Canton (two days) in addition to Peking.

If you could stay longer in China so much the better: you will find a great deal to absorb if you have not been in the area before.

•

2.

While I can understand your wish to cover the whole area while you have the financial authority, I think you would find it much more rewarding to split your visit up. The best itinerary from FED's point of view(and subject to Mr McLaren's comments) would be to start with two or three days in Hong Kong, which remains one of the best vantage points for looking at East Asia as a whole; then go to China (Canton, Shanghai, Peking), go on to Tokyo for a period of time which one should consult the Post about, and then to Seoul on the same basis. In Peking there would be less opportunity for useful exchanges with local contacts, but this should certainly be possible in Tokyo and Seoul and I do not think it would be right to squeeze it into so short a time span. Another important consideration is the weather: February/March are cold and disagreeable in Peking, Tokyo and Seoul: ideally, I would suggest making a separate trip of it, if the finances can be sorted out, and propose a trip in the autumn.

5 December 1978

China & Samml

RC Samuel

Far Eastern Dept

CC:

Mr Simons Mr Holloway

Mr McLaren

Mr Britten

Mr Snodgrass

Mr Murray (for information)

Mr Samuel