TNAG-1240-FCO40-1553-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 103

CONFIDENTIAL

AKK040

RECEIVED IN REGIST

RECEIVE

Mr Donald

PS/Mr Luce

IDEX

Lle

A60

HKK 040/1

FROM: R D CLIFT, HKD

DATE: 19 AUGUST 1983

REGISIGY

PS

PS/Lady Young.

PS/PUS

Hd/Planning Staff

PUSD

Hd/FED

4

PROPOSED VISIT TO CHINA BY LORD RHODES: OCTOBER 1983

PROBLEM

1.

Whether, and if so how to:

(a) discourage Lord Rhodes from canvassing "solutions" to Hong

Kong's future during his forthcoming visit to China; (b) explain to Mr Alastair Goodlad MP, that in view of his

political standing it would not be advisable for him to accompany Lord Rhodes during this visit.

RECOMMENDATION

2. I recommend that Mr Luce speak both to Lord Rhodes and to Mr Goodlad bearing in mind respectively, points (a) and (b) above.[FED agree].

A

BACKGROUND AND ARGUMENT

3.

The Chinese Ambassador has extended an invitation to Lord Rhodes

to visit China. He proposes to do so early in October, accompanied by Mr Goodlad, Lady Llewelyn-Davies and Miss Frances Wood of the British Museum, stopping over in Hong Kong, for 2 days en route.

Lord Rhodes says the main purpose of his visit is to improve

Sino-British relations, but he has indicated that he also proposes

to raise the future of Hong Kong in his talks with Chinee leaders. B,C,D In this connection, Mr Luce has twice provided Lord Rhodes with

appropriately general "Points to Make". We have recently learnt however that Lord Rhodes has a 'personal solution' to the Hong Kong

CONFIDENTIAL

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