TNAG-1041-FCO40-1291-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 35

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PRIME MINISTER

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BRENT IN MICHSTRY NO. 51

16 DEC1981

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产撞

1.

Visit to China, Hong Kong and Japan

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When I visited Peking in April, I told the Chinese with your agreement that you hoped to visit China during 1982, as a return for Hua Guofeng's visit in 1979. I am sure that a visit to China would be an excellent move in the context of our relations with China and our international position as a whole, and I believe that a visit to Japan at the same time would be essential and would have almost as great importance. I know that you have it in mind, subject to your other commitments, to carry out this visit in September 1982

and we have tentatively earmarked the period between 16 and see Micnovo | ((05)

29 September.

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Humphrey Atkins will be in both Peking and Tokyo in the first part of January, and can expect to be asked about possible dates for your visit.

Unless he can give a rather more precise reply than I was able to, there is a danger that our preferred month of September may become congested with other visits, both for the Chinese and for the Japanese; indeed we have heard that Mr Suzuki may himself be contemplating a visit to Peking in September. I suggest therefore that during his visit Humphrey Atkins should take the opportunity of putting down a marker both with the Chinese and the Japanese that you hope in principle to visit in the second half of September. The Chinese will certainly expect us to suggest dates soon the Hong Kong press is already saying that you are to go in September. They are almost bound to question Humphrey on this and subject to your views and the reaction of the governments concerned, he could confirm that you are indeed planning a visit in the Autumn. We could then start working out the programme in more detail.

3.

I have of course very much in mind the fact that the subject of Hong Kong is bound to come up if you go to Peking.

Indeed you agreed with Hua Guofeng in 1979 that you would keep in touch on the problem. I raised it when I was in Peking in April and the Chinese

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