TNAG-1160-FCO40-1440-Visit-by-Margaret-Thatcher--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Hong-Kong--1982 — Page 142

CONFIDENTIAL

Covering SECRET

ра

нито

67

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London SW1A 2AH

19 August 1982

Dear Tim,

118

HAK 026/5.

Prime Minister's Visit to the Far East:

AF20/3

Seel

Composition of Party

In his letter of 28 July to Francis Richards John Coles asked to know in due course who from Hong Kong would join the Prime Minister's party in China.

The Governor of Hong Kong has now recommended that he should himself accompany the Prime Minister. This is based on the strong views volunteered by the Unofficial Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils that his presence would be essential in order to give confidence to the public in Hong Kong that their views would be represented authoritatively in the advice available to the Prime Minister in Peking. In making his recommendation the Governor took into account the fact that his presence might increase expectations about the degree of progress we expected to make about Hong Kong's future in the talks in September. However the spotlight on the Prime Minister's visit to Peking is already so intense in Hong Kong that he considers his presence in Peking could not intensify it further. HM Ambassador in Peking has been consulted and concurs.

Mr Pym supports the Governor's recommendation in the circumstances. I would be grateful to know if the Prime Minister is also content.

Yours eve

(J E Holmes

for Hohes

Private Secretary

T Flesher Esq

10 Downing Street

CONFIDENTIAL