TNAG-1297-FCO40-1652-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1984 — Page 65

GR 150

CONFIDENTIAL

DESK BY 24093OOZ

$

109

CONFIDENTAL

See (113)

HICK 027/2

RECERED BY BRY 2 6 MAR 1984

DESK MAC!.

INDEX

FM HONG KONG 240525Z MAR 84

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 802 OF 24 MARCH

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

No

вис

دریانا

FUTURE OF HONG KONG: SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT.

THIS MORNING'S SCMP CARRIES ON ITS FRONT PAGE AN ARTICLE HEADLINED ''HOW IS NEEDED HERE FIRST' WITH A SUPPLEMENTARY HEADLINE ON THE BACK PAGE 'PUTTING THE PRESSURE ON SIR GEOFFREY. THE PAPER REPORTS THAT UNOFFICIAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS, WITH THE SUPPORT OF THEIR UNOFFICIAL EXECUTIVE COLLEAGUES, ARE PUTTING AN 11TH HOUR BID TO CONVINCE THE FOREIGN SECRETARY THAT HE SHOULD VISIT HONG KONG BEFORE GOING TO PEKING TO HEAR FIRST HAND THE VIEWS OF LEGCO MEMBERS AND TO CANVAS THE OPINION OF DISTRICT BOARD AND OTHER GRASS ROOTS REPRESENTATIVES. THE PLEA THAT THE FOREIGN SECRETARY SHOULD VISIT HONG KONG BEFORE PEKING IS REPORTED TO HAVE EMERGED FROM A MEETING OF UMELCO YESTERDAY WHEN THE HOW VISIT WAS TOP OF THE AGENDA.

2. SEE MIFT.

YOUDE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

ED/PLANNING STAFF

ED/PUSD

D/ED/PUSD

PES.B. (MR WALKER)

LEGAL ADVISER (SIR LAN SINCLAIR

FS

PS/LADY YOUNG-

PS/ME LUCE

PS/FUS

SER J BULLARD

SIR W HARDING YR WILSON

KR WRIGHT

STR C TICKETT,

COPIES TO;

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

PS/LORD FRESIDENT OF THE COUNCILL PS/HOME SECRETARY

PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXOSEQUER

PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL

PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY

COPIES TO: (VIA ADE)

MR. ROBERTS KEYS D'

HR BURROWS

LEGAL ADVS

MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST

MR MARTIN ASSESSMENT STAFF CABINET OFFICE

MR GOODALL

CABINET OFFICE

MR. BEKANAN CABINET OFFICE PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE D PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL

SIR ? CRADOCK BY K195

SIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING STREET

CONFIDEN MAL