TNAG-1297-FCO40-1652-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1984 — Page 90

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HKR 249

DD 191900Z UKREP BRUSSELS

GRS 288

SECRET

RECEIVED

ISTRY

2 1 MAR 1984

SECRET

DESP OPTICED

DESKBY 191900Z UKREP BRUSSELS

INDEX

PA

FM FCO 191759Z MAR 84

TO IMMEDIATE PEKING

TELEGRAM NUMBER 236 OF 19 MARCH

R4 201

KEB

1

90

5e87

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, UKREP BRUSSELS (FOR PRIVATE SECRETARY)

85

-YOUR TELNOS 514 AND 516: FUTURE OF HONG KONG: MY VISIT TO CHINA

1. WE ARE GLAD THAT THE CHINESE HAVE AGREED TO THE VISIT IN

PRINCIPLE AND THAT THEY ARE PREPARED FOR THE QUESTION OF THE

TIMETABLE OF THE TALKS TO BE DISCUSSED DURING THE VISIT.

2. THE DATES SUGGESTED BY THE CHINESE (17-20 APRIL) ARE HOWEVER

VERY DIFFICULT FOR US. THEY WOULD MEAN THE SECRETARY OF STATE

ARRIVING IN HONG KONG ON GOOD FRIDAY WHEN CLEARLY THE CHANCES OF

DOING REAL BUSINESS WOULD BE SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED. WE STILL

STRONGLY FAVOUR VISITING HONG KONG AFTER, NOT BEFORE, PEKING

AND SHOULD ARRIVE IN HONG KONG NOT LATER THAN EARLY AFTERNOON ON 18 APRIL. UNLESS YOU SEE OBJECTION; PLEASE SUGGEST TO THE

CHINESE THAT WE STICK TO THE PROPOSAL THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE SHOULD ARRIVE ON 15 APRIL AND HAVE TWO CLEAR DAYS, ON THE 16TH

AND 17TH, FOR DISCUSSION. YOU SHOULD EXPLAIN THAT OTHER PARTS OF

THE ITINERARY ARE ALREADY FIXED AND DO NOT ALLOW FOR MUCH LATITUDE SUBJECT TO ANY COMMENT FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE, YOU COULD IF NECESSARY ALSO SAY THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE WOULD NATURALLY

UNDERSTAND IF WU HIMSELF WERE NOT ABLE TO SEE HIM UNTIL SAY

17 APRIL. (WHILE WE SHALL OF COURSE HAVE TO OBSERVE THE

COURTESIES, THE CALLS ON OTHER LEADERS WILL BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT ON WU).

3. WE SHALL BE PROPOSING THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE MAKES A

REFERENCE TO HIS VISITS TO BOTH PEKING AND TO HONG KONG IN THE

FOREIGN AFFAIRS DEBATE, WITHOUT MENTIONING DATES.

4.

WE ARE COPYING THIS TELEGRAM AND YOUR TUR TO UKREP BRUSSELS

IN CASE THE SECRETARY OF STATE WISHED TO MAKE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS HOWE

· FUTURE OF HONG KONG

See

92

כנן

PLANNING STAFF

/PUSD

D/ED/PUSD

PES B. (MR WALKER)

LEGAL ADVISER (SIR TAN SINCLAIR

FS

PS/LADY YOUNG

PS/ME LUCK

PS/FUS

SER J BULLARD

SIR W HARDING

YR WILSON

LAR FRIGENT SIR C TICKETAT,

COPIES TO:

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

PS/LOED PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

PS/HOME SECRETARY

PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL

PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY

COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)

MR. ROBERTS I GAS D

HR BURROWS

LEGAL ADVS

MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST

ME MARTIN ASSESSMENT STAFF CABINET OFFICE

MR GOODALL CABINET OFFICE

MR BRENNAN CABINET OFFICE

PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE D PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL

SIR F CRADOCK BY K195

SIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING STREET

SECRET

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