TNAG-1229-FCO40-1542-Possible-visit-by-the-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Com-1983 — Page 48

PERSONAL

CONFIDENTIAL

香港總督府

Hd. ATKG.J.

Dear Anthony,

CL.

Pers has replied

& Entis & pa

GOVERNMENT HOUSE

HONG KONG

5 May 1983

201

for adme draft reply pro. Priveli Scoutary 12/5.

Ps / Low Belstead HAFRD.

يمه

Ad Planning Steft.

I do not know when consideration will be given

0

Mn

12/v.

to the Secretary of State's programme for the autumn but I should like to put in a strong plea for a visit to Hong Kong to be included. As Secretary of State, Hong Kong is of course his direct responsibility and I know that he would be warmly welcomed here. Apart from that it will be very important to demonstrate both to the KK02718 Chinese and to the population of Hong Kong HMG EIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51

1 JUN 1983 continuing commitment to Hong Kong.

2.

INDEX

REGISTRY

D. Tukat

We shall by this summer have had visits from the 11 Chile

See

Prime Minister, Lord Belstead, the Secretaries for Trade- and Industry and Ministers from the Departments of Transport, Trade and Health and Social Security. Some of the visits have been heavily trade oriented and the Duke of Kent's visit also had a strong trade element. Although welcome, these visits, unless counter-balanced could all too easily give credence to the Chinese claim that the UK is only interested in Hong Kong for what it gets out of it. In consequence, we shall soon need another political visit. I can understand why Mr Pym has not been here during his first year of office but it will look very odd if the Secretary of State directly responsible for Hong Kong does not visit Hong Kong in the not too distant future.

3.

I recognise that we shall have to keep the Peking dimension in mind; whether the Secretary of State should

/ 2.....

Sir Antony Acland KCVO CMG

FCO

CONFIDENTIAL