TNAG-1240-FCO40-1553-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 43

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CONFIDENTIAL

19/8/8

HKK 040/1

FROM: R D CLIFT, HKD

. DATE: 19 AUGUST 1983

Mr Donald PS/Mr Lyce

питай

Minister:

ہم۔

HKK 040.

RECEIVED IN REGISTĄ

30 AUG 1983

DESK OFFICER INDEX

PA

REGISTRY Action Taken

PS

PS/Lady Young

PS/PUS

Hd/Planning Staff

PUSD

Hd/FED

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].

437

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 Chinge leaders. (413) B,C,D In this connection, Mr Luce has twice provided Lord Rhodes with

(408)

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

CONFIDENTIAL