TNAG-1254-FCO40-1587-Third-countries-and-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 166

6. MFA HAVE AGAIN EXPRESSED MILD SURPRISE AT MINISTER'S DECISION TO REMAIN IN AUCKLAND OVERNIGHT SINCE HE DOES NOT PROPOSE ANY ENGAGEMENTS AFTER LUNCH ON 26 SEPTEMBER. THEY HAVE POINTED OUT THAT IN ORDER TO BE AT AIRPORT FOR 0910 HRS TAKE-OFF, MINISTER WILL NEED TO MAKE FAIRLY EARLY START. HAS MR WHITNEY CONSIDERED FLYING TO WELLINGTON LATE AFTERNOON 26 SEPTEMBER AND SPENDING QUIET EVENING AT HOMEWOOD? THIS WOULD ALSO SPARE CONSUL-GENERAL AUCKLAND THE BURDEN SINCE HE HAS NO DOMESTIC STAFF, OF ACCOMMODATING MINISTER AND PS (AUCKLAND TELNO 015) WHICH HE HAS KINDLY VOLUNTEERED TO DO.

DOES MR WHITNEY PROPOSE TO COVER ANY PARTICULAR TOPICS IN HIS (PRIVATE) MEETING WITH FAC? WE ARE RESISTING MEA ATTEMPTS TO COMMIT HIM TO SPEAKING FOR 30 MINUTES BUT SOME OPENING REMARKS WILL BE REQUIRED. WE SUGGEST MR WHITNEY COVERS BRIEFLY THE MAIN FOREIGN AFFAIRS PROBLEMS IN MINISTERS' MINDS AT PRESENT.

8. PRESS CLUB WOULD ALSO LIKE TITLE OR INDICATION OF THEME (S) FOR MINISTER'S SPEECH ON 27 SEPTEMBER. CAN WE TELL THEM THAT MR WHITNEY WILL SPEAK, INTER ALIA, ON BRITISH ATTITUDE TOWARDS NUCLEAR ISSUES?

STRATTON