TNAG-0852-FCO40-1062-Visits-of-Royal-Navy-ships-to-Hong-Kong-and-China-1979 — Page 18

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CONFIDENTIAL

DRAFT: Xime/letter Acleloff&XXte LETTER

FROM:

Secretary of State

TYPE: Draft/Final 1+

Reference

DEPARTMENT:

TEL. NO:

Secretary of State for Defence

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

TO:

Top Secret

Secret

Confidential

Restricted

Unclassified

PRIVACY MARKING

SUBJECT:

Your Reference

Copies to:

POSSIBLE ROYAL NAVY VISIT TO CHINA

.In Confidence

CAVEAT....

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Our officials have been discussing the possibility of a visit to a Chinese port by a Royal Navy Task Group, which is planned to deploy to North East Asia waters next year.

The Chinese have indicated informally on several occasions that they would welcome a naval visit, and I believe that a visit in 1980 would be timely, following the Chinese Premier's visit to Britain in October/Novemberous

form It would be a natural part of our developing relationship with China,/

We need of course to consider possible Soviet

reactions. Presentation of the visit will have to be handled carefully, and I do not believe that a balancing visit to a Soviet port at this stage would be necessary, But we might wish to consider the possibility-of one later, perhaps in 1981.

suggesting

Cari agree

to the

I should be grateful to know whether you will be able' to make the necessary arrangements for a visit to a Chinese port in 1980, and hope that our officials will continue to keep in close touch.

pirposer

CONFIDENTIAL

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