TNAG-1224-FCO40-1537-Visits-to-the-UK-by-official-and-unofficial-members-of-the-E-1983 — Page 174

SECRET

FR350 SECRET

FM HONG KONG 081025Z APR 33

TELEGRAM NUMBER 478 OF 3 APRIL

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING (PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR)

TOP COPY

MKKQ26/5

*ONED AT NO. $1

DE XX

12 APR 1983

See @

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PA

REGISEPY. Action Take

4

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FUTURE OF HONG KONG: POSSIBLE VISIT TO LONDON BY EXCO 1. IT WAS AGREED AT THE PRIME MINISTER'S MEETING ON 9 MARCH THAT, IT WOULD BE USEFUL IF I WERE TO TAKE A GROUP OF UNOFFICIALS TO

LONDON AGAIN BEFORE TOO LONG. THE PRIME MINISTER SAW SIR S.Y.

CHUNG WHEN HE VISITED LONDON PRIVATELY IN DECEMBER, AND SHE AND

LORD BELSTEAD BOTH HAD MEETING WITH UMELCO DURING THEIR VISITS

HERE. BUT IT IS NOW SEVEN MONTHS SINCE THE LAST VISIT BY UNOFFICIALS SPECIFICALLY TO DISCUSS THE FUTURE, AND IT IS PRESENTATIONALLY

IMPORTANT FOR EXCO TO BE SEEN TO MAINTAIN REGULAR CONTACT WITH

MINISTERS. FROM THE SUBSTANTIVE POINT OF VIEW SUCH A VISIT WOULD.

BE VALUABLE WHATEVER THE CHINESE RESPONSE TO THE PRIME MINISTER'S

MESSAGE: WHETHER IT IS POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE MINISTERS WILL

PRESUMABLY WISH TO HAVE UNOFFICIALS' VIEWS ON THE WAY FORWARD,

AND THEY WILL CERTAINLY EXPECT TO BE CONSULTED.

2. ON THIS OCCASION I WOULD PROPOSE TO INVITE ALL (ALL) EXCO

UNOFFICIALS TO ACCOMPANY ME. IT WOULD BE INVIDIOUS TO CHOOSE

AMONG THEM, AND IT WOULD PROBABLY BE UNACCEPTABLE TO THE UNOFFICIALS

THEMSELVES TO ATTEMPT TO DO SO. AT THE SAME TIME, I AM SURE THAT

UMELCO AS A WHOLE WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT FRANK DISCUSSION WOULD BE

INHIBITED IF NON-EXCO MEMBERS WERE TO BE INVOLVED.

3. THE TIMING OF SUCH A VISIT WOULD DEPEND ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS,

NOT LEAST THE PRIME MINISTER'S PROGRAMME. IT SHOULD CLEARLY TAKE

PLACE AFTER THE CHINESE HAVE REPLIED TO THE PRIME MINISTER'S

MESSAGE TO ZHAO SO THAT DISCUSSIONS WITH MINISTERS COULD BE HELD

IN THE LIGHT OF THE REPLY. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE VISIT SHOULD

NOT BE DELAYED FOR TOO LONG, GIVEN THE RISK OF A CHINESE

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THEIR PLAN AT THE NPC, WHICH SOME REPORTS SUGGEST

COULD BE HELD EARLY IN JUNE. THESE CONSIDERATIONS SUGGEST THAT

WE SHOULD BE THINKING IN TERMS OF AROUND THE MIDDLE OF MAY.

4. UNLESS YOU SEE OBJECTION, I PROPOSE TO TELL EXCO AT THEIR

MEETING ON 13 APRIL THAT I AM IN TOUCH WITH THOSE CONCERNED

ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF TAKING UNOFFICIALS TO LONDON AT SOME

POINT IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO, AND THAT THIS IDEA HAS BEEN WELCOMED

BY MINISTERS IN PRINCIPLE. I WOULD NOT NEED TO SAY ANYTHING MORE

SPECIFIC ABOUT DATES AT THIS STAGE.

H415

YOUDE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

KIMKUEND

COPIES TO

HD/HKGD

HD/FED

ED/PLANNING STAFF

HD/PUSD

PS

PS/MR HURD

PS/LORD BELSTEAD PS/FUS

SIR J BUILLARD

MR GIFFARD

MR DONALD

SIR I SINCLAIR LEGAL ADVISER MR BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS

MR ROBERTS

MR MARTIN

NEWS D

ASSESSMENTS STAFF CABINET OFFICE

MR FLOWER PUSD

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