TNAG-0841-FCO40-1050-Visit-of-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--to-Chi-1979 — Page 218

布政司署

港下亞

畢道

CONFIDENTIAL

**** OUR Ref.: SCR 3/5701/78

* YOur Ref.:

59

GOVERNMent secRETARIAT

LOWER ALBERT ROAD

HONG KONG

14 March, 1979

HICK 026/3400 ST

RJT McLaren Esq

Hong Kong & General Department FCO

INDEX

No

Year

BRIEFS FOR THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO CHINA

3 OMAR 1979

You said that you would like to have a look, in advance, at the briefs being prepared for the Governor's visit to China. Peking made a similar request.

2.

I explained on the telephone that, in order to prevent a premature leak of the news, we were not able to launch any of the briefing preparations here before the evening of 6 March when the visit was officially announced. Those concerned have therefore been working under a good deal of pressure to prepare drafts by close of play today, which was the deadline given to them.

3.

I hope you will understand that the enclosed papers are first drafts, prepared by the relevant departments of the Government. They have also been prepared in the normal Hong Kong manner which is to provide factual details rather than recommended speaking points as in Foreign Office drafts. To help explain the precise form the briefs take, I am enclosing a copy of the Governor's minute setting out what he required.

4.

One brief, that on power supply, was not ready by the deadline. In addition to the briefs specifically requested by the Governor, I am attaching background papers produced on the number and type of delegations visiting Hong Kong during the last year and potential industrial development at Shum Chun, just across the border.

5.

I

I propose to look over and refine these briefs during the weekend. They will then be discussed at a meeting w the Governor early next week before being finalised. send copies of the final version in the bag next week this will only reach you at roughly the same time as selves arrive in Peking.

8

J T B George Esq (Peking)

(D C Wilson)

CONFIDENTIAL