TNAG-1158-FCO40-1438-Visit-by-Margaret-Thatcher--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Hong-Kong--1982 — Page 78

CONFIDENTIAL

Мин

الة

Mrs 126/10

stion only

Oil

Mr McLean, TRED

MIME

OFFICIAL COMMITTEE ON EXPORTS:

1.

f

Mr. William

(47A

In Gagen / Park 4 should

Min.

MEETING ON 17 JUNE

appear

om Puis vifit 2 Mes Amport- files.

for P.a.

I was grateful for this comprehensive briefing which I discussed further with Mr Bell this morning. The following is not a comprehensive record but a note of what I thought worth noting.

2"

Par 2017

Prime Minister's Visit to the Far East

J

SLA VAJ

With reference to paragraph 15 of the Department of Trade Memorandum (capital aid to China), much was made of the fact that no money for capital aid was available at any rate for the next few years and that the technical aid which was available might not satisfy the Chinese. The Committee felt that it might be useful

for the FCO/ODA to write to No.10 in advance of the visit to say (if this is the case) that capital aid is not likely to be a runner. No doubt the Committee had in mind the Indian visit when Mrs Gandhi managed to get aid at the last moment!

3.

Also on China, I did not mention our COCOM plan.

port

4. On the Chek Lap Kok aircraft development, I made the point in your brief. The Chairman (Mr Caines) who had visited Hong Kong recently, agreed that the Pimre Minister should not be briefed to 'make a pitch' on this issue but felt, in view of his

recent visit to Hong Kong, that she would have to mention it. I said I reserved our position on this though of course the PM would need a defensive brief.

Own

5. On Japan (para 6 of the Department of Trade Memorandum) the Chairman asked the Department of Industry to consider whether the PM should not be asked to bring the question of sales of the BA 146 to the boil.

6.

-

The Secretary of State for Irade's Visit to Australia and New Zealand

There is no doubt about Lord Cockroft's intention to visit New Zealand but as I suspected (from the fact that Melbourne is omitted from para 1 of the DOT Memorandum) the Secretary of State for Trade will probably only wish to visit three Australian cities. On the basis of the oral advice given to me this morning by South West Pacific Department, I said that the three cities should be Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney, since these were the great commercial centres. I also put Adelaide before Perth. But, alas, my position had apparently been undermined by Sir J Mason who had told the Department of Trade that he could live without Melbourne and Adelaide! I said that the final choice would of course be for Lord Cockfield but perhaps there could be discussions between the FCO and the Department of Trade.

In a separate intervention the Department of Trade said ominously that they did not share Sir J Mason's

listo

I

CONFIDENTIAL

1 views