TNAG-1298-FCO40-1653-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1984 — Page 144

GRS 100

CONFIDENTIAL

CON DENTIAL

FM HONG KONG 030210Z APR 84

DENTIAL TOP COPY

TO PRIORITY PEKING

TELEGRAM NUMBER 250 OF 3 APRIL

INFO PRIORITY F C O

AKK

027/2

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY = 3 APR 1984

DESK OFF

INDEX

SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO PEKING

до

162

Sex 175

Kes

1. WE HAD A WORD WHILE I WAS IN PEKING LAST WEEK ABOUT THE POSSIBILIT

Y

OF USING Y P CHENG AS INTERPRETER DURING THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT. YOUR VIEW WAS, I THINK, THAT THE CHINESE WOULD BE UNLIKELY TO OBJECT GIVEN CHENG'S ASSOCIATION WITH THE TALKS FROM THE OUTSET,

THOUGH THEY MIGHT INSIST ON USING THEIR OWN INTERPRETER FOR

MEETINGS WITH THE MOST SENIOR LEADERS.

2. THIS IS VERY MUCH A MATTER FOR YOU AND THE FCD, BUT SINCE THE CHINESE ARE NOW PRESSING YOU FOR A LIST OF THOSE WHO WILL BE TAKING PART IN THE VISIT (YOUR TELNO 620 TO THE FCO) THERE MIGHT

620 TO

? BE ADVANTAGE IN TAKING A DECISION NOW.

YOUDE

MINIMAL

HKD FED

PROTOCOL D

CONFIDENTIAL