TNAG-1156-FCO40-1436-Visits-by-FCO-Ministers-to-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 136

CONFIDENTIAL

BRITISH EMBASSY,

PEKING.

14 January 1982

The Right Hon The Lord Carrington KCMG MC

LONDON

My Lord

1.

VISIT OF THE LORD PRIVY SEAL TO CHINA: 4 - 8 JANUARY 1982

The Lord Privy Seal, accompanied by Mrs Atkins, his

Parliamentary Private Secretary, Mr Tom Arnold MP, and Mr

Alan Donald, Assistant Under Secretary, visited Peking and

Shanghai between 4 and 8 January. His programme, and copies

of the speeches Mr Atkins made at the welcoming banquet on

5 January and at dinner at the British Embassy on 6 January

are attached. In this despatch I record the main events

of this visit, together with some general impressions.

The visit had its origins in a suggestion made by

the Chinese Ambassador in London last May that Mr Blaker,

the then Minister of State, should visit China. The

invitation was accepted in principle, and its acceptance

later confirmed on behalf of Mr Nicholas Ridley, who had

2.

3

planned to come to China last November. The Chinese were

very pleased that Mr Atkins was able to take up the invitation

and to come to China only a few months after assuming the

office of Lord Privy Seal.

3.

The programme during the two full days spent in

Peking was well balanced between official talks with

1

CONFIDENTIAL

/Chinese