TNAG-1240-FCO40-1553-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 13

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Mr Giffard

CONFIDENTIAL

HIKKOHOL, Jeupby A State

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DATED IN ALLI

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Private Secretary

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FROM R D Clift, HKD DATE: 26 August 1983

cc: PS/Mr Luce

PS/Lady Young

with R.L +9.12

AN WIE

PS/PUS

Head, Planning Staff PUSD

Hd, FED

: See separate (Late)

PROPOSED VISIT TO CHINA BY LORD RHODES: OCTOBER 1983

PROBLEM

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thoven 20 R.L

1. How to reply to Mr Alastair Goodlad's letter of 22 August

to the Secretary of State in which he:

(a) seeks the Secretary of State's consent to visit China

with Lord Rhodes from 1-15 October;

(b)

suggests that Mr Tim Renton MP (PPS/Secretary of State)

be included in Lord Rhodes' party.

RECOMMENDATION

2. I recommend that the Secretary of State:

(a) reply to Mr Goodlad as in the attached draft letter; (b) subsequently speak to Mr Goodlad and if appropriate to

Mr Renton to explain that it would not be appropriate for

either of them to accompany Lord Rhodes.

BACKGROUND AND ARGUMENT

3. My submission of 19 August gave the background to Lord Rhodes proposed visit to China and explained why it would be

inadvisable for Mr Goodlad to participate in this. Lord Rhodes has now told the Hong Kong Commissioner that he does not intend

to raise Hong Kong unless the Chinese do so. However I do not believe we can rule out his discussing his own 'solutions' to the problem. We must avoid any hint that such ideas might form, even in part, an official British Government position. Mr Goodlad's inclusion in Lord Rhodes' party would be unhelpful in this respect. Moreover, the addition of Mr Renton to the

party would give added weight to any Chinese suspicions that Lord Rhodes' views on Hong Kong had British Government backing.

>

CONFIDENTIAL

/4.