TNAG-1158-FCO40-1438-Visit-by-Margaret-Thatcher--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Hong-Kong--1982 — Page 162

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indications in particular of the Prime Minister's

likely cultural interests, for example whether she

would like to visit Chinese artists' studios or a

painting academy in Peking, or whether she would be

interested in any musical or dramatic performance.

In general we have conceived the visit as being largely

working, with the essential elements being the

meetings with Japanese and Chinese leaders, and with

no sightseeing as such given that Mrs Thatcher visited

both China and Japan in 1977. We should also be

grateful for an indication of the likely size of the

party from No 10, including any members of Mrs Thatcher's

family for whom separate programmes may be required.

4.

I should perhaps explain that both the Japanese

and Chinese Governments would prefer the order of

visits to their two countries to be as we have proposed.

This suits us well, as there will be very great

interest in Hong Kong in the results of the Prime

Minister's discussions with Chinese leaders in Peking,

and this will in practice require her to go straight on

to Hong Kong from China. To return to the UK direct

from Hong Kong makes geographical sense.

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