TNAG-1230-FCO40-1543-Visit-by-Richard-Luce--Minister-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Com-1983 — Page 240

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IL EVID A REGISTRY NO. 51

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1 SEP 1983

DESK OF CERU)

INDEXT

PA

(see Min Raley'

MR LUCE'S VISIT TO HONG KONG.

Programme

1.

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Miss Bailey's minute of 5 August recorded Mr Luce's initial thoughts on the draft programme produced by the Hong Kong Government. We passed these points on to the Hong Kong Government, who have now produced a revised and more detailed programme.

2.

This is based on the programme for Lord Belstead's visit in December 1982. It will give the Minister a very comprehensive picture of Hong Kong and its main achievements and problems and enable him to meet a large number of its leading personalities. will be a very busy but stimulating three days.

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3. I would like to draw Mr Luce's attention to the following points of detail:-

(a) the flight details for 24 September are wrong because the Hong Kong Government have been under the misapprehension that Mr Luce will arrive from the UK. We have put them right on this, and asked for details of flights from Brunei on that day;

(b) the Governor has asked if Mr Luce would like to have lunch, tea and a swim on his launch on Sunday 25 September;

(c) Hong Kong have included a district board meeting in the programme (on 28 September) but the Acting Governor has suggested that Mr Luce should not visit the Services, in view of the very short time available. Moreover, the Chief of Defence Staff will be in Hong Kong between 29 September and 4 October, and in the present circumstances the Governor is anxious that the Services should not be given too high a public profile. However, a call on the Commander British Forces could be arranged if Mr Luce wished;

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(d) the Governor has suggested that the meeting with the Executive Council should be put back from 26 September to 27 September to allow Mr Luce more time to update himself on developments that may have taken place on the future of Hong Kong since his departure from the UK (in particular the round of talks scheduled for 22/3 September in Peking). This is a good idea and we have passed it on to Hong Kong;

(e) Mr Luce will not be required to make any formal speeches. The Department will however draft brief opening statements for use at the meeting with UMELCO and the press conference;

CONFIDENTIAL

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