TNAG-1297-FCO40-1652-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1984 — Page 293

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CONFIDENTIAL

25

HKCK 02712

FROM:

M Elliott

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

- 8 FEB 1984

OFFICER

Mr Donald

PA

REGISTRY

ction Taken

коз

DATE:

CC:

14312

Far Eastern Department

2 February 1984

PS/Mr Luce

PS/PUS

Sir P Cradock Mr Clift, HKD Protocol Dept

SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO THE FAR EAST

PROBLEM

M. Hum

Mr. Myris

Mr. House

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1. The dates in the week after Easter proposed for a Far Eastern tour are acceptable to Korea and Japan but if there is a need for a visit to Peking, the dates at present planned could clash with possible dates for a visit by President Reagan.

RECOMMENDATION

2.

a) We should now confirm the dates for Korea and Japan

(23-25 and 25-27 April respectively);

b) we should advance the Hong Kong visit to 27-29 April;

c) for China we should keep open the options either of

advancing departure from the UK to Friday 20 April to allow 48 hours in Peking before flying on to Seoul late on 23 April; or of altering the Secretary of State's commitments at the beginning of May to leave room for a visit to Peking with any necessary adjustment to the Hong Kong dates.

HKD concur.

BACKGROUND AND ARGUMENT

3. FCO telno 39 to Tokyo proposed an itinerary for the period 22-30 April, the previous week having proved impossible. One factor was the view expressed in Mr Donald's minute of 19 January and Sir P Cradock's minute of 24 January that we should include provision for a visit to Peking if the circumstances at the time make such a visit necessary and that at least two nights in Peking would be required to conduct any worthwhile negotiations.

4.

Replies from Seoul and Hong Kong see no difficulty with the dates proposed. HM Ambassador in Tokyo also accepts the dates but points out (Tokyo telno 66) that there is no real alternative to arrival at lunchtime on 25 April because of an earlier state visit and subsequent engagements for the Japanese Foreign Minister. Both Seoul and Tokyo ask for early confirmation of the dates as the programme is fast becoming congested in both capitals.

CONFIDENTIAL

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