TNAG-1297-FCO40-1652-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1984 — Page 304

CONFIDENTIAL

а

HKK

Private Secretary

02712

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

C

30 JAN 1984

Melily.

FROM: R D CLIFT, HKD DATE: 26 January 1984

cc: PS/Mr Luce

Thanks. I have discussed with Mr Mölk. You will see of our fellyom seeking

a

VESI OFFICESECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO THE FAR EAST

No

(16)

17

Altehld.

FA

Serien Token

кевзор

of

Deking t

His comment principle of-

Suggested

Mr Donald

Mr Elliott, FED

fols usit.

usit. Cartes(- Stinerary will not achall indre overlap,

Mr Elliott minuted on 24 and 25 January about revised dates for the Secretary of State's visit to the Far East.

2.

The revised dates for the Secretary of State to visit Hong Kong from 27-29 April unfortunately clash with a proposal for Mr Stanley to visit Hong Kong and China. After this had been cleared with Hong Kong and Peking you wrote on 29 November 1983 to PS/Mr Stanley confirming that both posts would welcome a visit by the Minister in late April.

3. MOD have subsequently agreed with Hong Kong that

Jasis

11-Kese dates

Mr Stanley should visit Hong Kong on 28-29 April after visiting China. However, arrangements for the Minister to visit Peking are still subject to confirmation by the Chinese as there is a possibility that President Reagan may visit China at this time. Peking are still pressing the Chinese for a reply.

4.

This

There could be serious difficulties if a visit by Mr Stanley overlapped with one by the Secretary of State to Hong Kong. The media and others would assume that they were consulting on defence questions connected with the future. would cause problems with the Chinese. It would of course be embarrassing if we had to tell Mr Stanley for a third time that his proposed visit to Hong Kong was inconvenient, particularly now that firm dates have been agreed. However, if the Chinese are unable to accept MOD's proposed visit for the Peking leg of the visit, this may give us the opportunity to suggest that the whole trip should be rearranged.

5.

One alternative would be for Mr Stanley to visit Hong Kong before China. FED have previously advised against this on presentational grounds but have not consulted Peking on this. It may not be an overriding problem if this is the only way to avoid an overlap.

26 January 1984

in

R D Clift

Hong Kong Department

CONFIDENTIAL