TNAG-1032-FCO40-1282-Possible-visit-by-Margaret-Thatcher--UK-Prime-Minister--to-H-1981 — Page 39

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CONFIDENTIAL

4. In these, circumstances, Lord Carrington hopes that

the Prime Minister will be prepared to visit China some

time in 1982, preferably in the first half of the year.

But he sees no need to take a definite decision about the

timing now. Subject to Mrs Thatcher's views, he would

like to tell the Chinese that the Prime Minister remains

anxious to take up her invitation; that her other

commitments, particularly the Presidency in the second half of the year will unfortunately prevent her from doing so

in 1981; but that she very much hopes she will be able to visit China next year. If this seems agreeable to the

Chinese, Lord Carrington would go on to suggest that

dates might be discussed nearer the time, perhaps in the

autumn of this year.

CONFIDENTIAL

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