TNAG-1229-FCO40-1542-Possible-visit-by-the-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Com-1983 — Page 13

Mr Sprague

Protocol Department

cc: Mr Thomson FED

SECRET

Soe HER 027/25

Reference

027/250

HKK 027/18

RECEIVED

2 5 NOV 1983

Fur

Mittore fi.

DESK

INDEX

SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISITS OVERSEAS IN 1984

19

(17)

1. We spoke about your minute of 22 November, circulating a draft submission.

2. As I explained, we decided that the Governor of Hong Kong and HM Ambassador in Peking should be consulted afresh about visits by the Secretary of State. I attach copies of our telno 1244 to Hong Kong, Hong Kong telno 1815 and an apparently unnumbered telegram from Peking.

I am sorry that you were omitted from the distribution.

3. In the light of this exchange of telegrams I should now like to suggest the following amendments to your draft submission:

(i) Para 2. Insert a new sub-paragraph (d) as follows:

'Bear in mind, perhaps in connection with the Easter visit, the need to pay a confidence-boosting visit to Hong Kong'. Turn the existing sub-paragraph (d) to (e).

(ii) Para 6. Substitute for the first 3 sentences the following

passage:

'The Governor of Hong Kong and IIM Ambassador in Peking have been consulted on the possibility of visits to their posts. They agree with the Department's view that:

(a) So long as the present phase of negotiations on the future

of Hong Kong is continuing, a 'routine' visit to Peking cannot be envisaged. A visit would inevitably be seen as connected with the negotiations, both by the Chinese and by public opinion in Hong Kong. Both would anticipate a new initiative (b) A confidence-boosting visit to Hong Kong will be necessary no later than June 1984. It might well be fitted in as part of the Far Eastern tour, provisionally planned for the Easter recess. But there could possibly be reasons connected with the talks why such a visit might turn out not to be advisable at that time. It would be important not to announc such a visit and then be forced to cancel it. A final decision should therefore be delayed for as long as possible. (c) Developments in the talks might at any stage make it necessar

for the Secretary of State to travel to Peking and/or Hong Kong at much shorter notice.'

4. The remaining sentence in your draft of Para 6 should perhap be relegated to a separate paragraph. I am afraid that the entir submission must now be upgraded to 'secret'. I understand that FED, who agree with this recommendation, are minuting separately to you about a possible visit to Japan and Korea,

24 November 1983

сбал

CO Hum

Hong Kong Department

CODE 18-77

SECRET