TNAG-1230-FCO40-1543-Visit-by-Richard-Luce--Minister-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Com-1983 — Page 233

Mr. Burton

In Seare

(Para 4)

PS/Mr Luce

CONFIDENTIAL

D24/=

HKK 007/20

FROM JN Hartland-Swann...

-South East Asian Department

DATE: 23 August 1983

cc. Mr Giffard

JMr Clift, HKD

Mr Elliott, FED

MR LUCE'S VISIT TO HONG KONG, BRUNEI AND SINGAPORE

1. Mr Clift's submission of 22 August, which dealt with the Hong

Kong part of the visit, mentioned that we might have a difficulty

with Brunei in the proposed press release.

complication about timing..

2.

There is also a

Although the negotiations with the Bruneis over the final

points in the defence arrangements are going well, there is still

some way to go before we can finalise agreed texts.

It would be

imprudent, therefore, to make any public announcement at this stage.

of Mr Luce's plans to go to Brunei.

sarily expect this.

Nor will the Bruneis neces-

And

3. There is also a slight problem about dates since we have

learnt that 19 September is a Public Holiday in Brunei. 23 September, as a Friday, is ruled out for any official purposes since Brunei is a Muslim country. This suggests that the logical arrangement for the programme is to start off with a visit to Brunei followed by a call at Singapore with Mr Luce then going on to Hong Kong. There would be added advantage in this arrangement since it would allow Mr Luce to brief the Singaporeans fully on

the outcome of his own talks with the Sultan.

THIS IS A COPY

THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN

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CLOSED FOR

40 YEARS UNDER FOI EXEMPTION NO...2701) 440

CONFIDENTIAL

14.