TNAG-1297-FCO40-1652-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1984 — Page 24

1.

Private Secretary

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From: CO Hum HKD PA

28 March 1984

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Seeray of State

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Action TDA

Secretary of State's Visit to Peking

I submit a draft reply to Peking tel No 587. "FCO 133) tel No 276 to Peking also refers. (Both are attached.)

The draft has been agreed with Sir P Cradock and with FED.

2.

The telegram is largely self-explanatory. We suggest that the Secretary of State might be prepared to delay his departure from Peking to Hong Kong by some three hours if this would enable him to see all the senior Chinese leaders most closely concerned with the Hong Kong problem. *

3.

The draft does not cover the points in para 6 of the Peking telegram under reference, namely the need for the Secretary of State to give the Community briefing in Peking and to meet members of Embassy staff. Our inclination, which Sir P Cradock supports, is that a Community briefing is not strictly essential in such a short and crowded programme.

Sir R Evans could very well do the necessary after the Secretary of State's departure. On the other hand an opportunity for Embassy staff (who have been very hard pressed in the past months) to meet the Secretary of State and Lady Howe would be very much appreciated. If the Secretary of State agrees, a paragraph in this sense might be added to the telegram.

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Laden n we do gladlendo' the

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Colten

(CO Hum) Hong Kong Dept

*The only item on

the Hong Kong programme

28 March 1984

for the afternoon of 18 April is a

with officials-

meeting

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