TNAG-1230-FCO40-1543-Visit-by-Richard-Luce--Minister-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Com-1983 — Page 288

CONFIDENTIAL

BHA 026/20

29/6/30

PS/MT Lace Minister

FROM: R D CLIFT, HKD DATE: 29 JUNE 1983

Ance: Private Secretary Азиже:

h.

Pur

бошо to Simms with

beranor

M

piris

VISIT TO HONG KONG BY MR LUCE

PS/PUS

Mr Giffard

Mr Donald

Mr Elliott, FED Mr Burges-Watson, SEAD Miss Neville-Jones,

Planning Staff

нското

RECEIVED IN RECISTRY MO. 51 15 JUL 1983

DESK

PA

INDEX

1.

Your minute of 21 June.

2.

GISTRY etion Taken

11 CHISHT

I would certainly recommend a visit by Mr Luce to

See R

Hong Kong as soon as it is convenient, so that he can familiarise himself with the territory and help to boost confidence in Hong Kong. I know that the Governor would strongly endorse this. The familiarisation visit which Lord Belstead made last December went down very well.

3.

As for timing, it now looks as though in late July the new phase of talks with the Chinese will be still getting off the ground. It is then the present intention of the Governor (and also the Ambassador in Peking) to take about one month's leave from early August. It would be best therefore to avoid the July slot. Apart from anything else, a visit to Hong Kong then without including Peking, would arouse misleading speculation.

4.

The first half of September however looks a good bet. The Governor will be back; the talks should have settled down. There would be a sensible interval "before the Secretary

of State's visit to the area, If that does not take place until

nearer the end of the year.

5.

This could be discussed during the Governor's forthcoming visit to London.

Бир

R D Clift

29 June 1983

Hong Kong Deparment

CONFIDENTIAL