TNAG-1298-FCO40-1653-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1984 — Page 6

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Mr Cowper-Coles, Planning Staff, K 109

Reference

SECRETARY OF STATE'S SPEECH AT THE LORD MAYOR'S EASTER BANQUET: WEDNESDAY 2 MAY

1. Your minute of 4 April invited suggestions.

2. The Secretary of State will just have returned from the Far East and it would be natural for him to refer to his visit. The primary interest will no doubt be in Hong Kong and Hong Kong Department will have comments on what he should say. I would hope that they could incorporate a general reference to the importance of our relations with China in other fields. If there is room perhaps two points could be incorporated: relatively similar attitudes which we and the Chinese have to most international problems (eg Afghanistan, Cambodia and so on); and the seriousness with which British commercial interests are working towards developing our commercial relations in the interests of China's modernisation programme.

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3. I think that there should also be at least some mention of Japan and Korea because of the visit. On Japan the Secretary of State could refer to the increasing tempo of our exchanges with the Japanese for consultation at all levels, pointing to Mr Nakasone's imminent visit to the UK for the London Summit and to the more positive line which he and his Government have been taking on international questions, which we welcome. If there is room for a further sentence it could refer to our expectation that Japan will respond also to the general wish of the international community that she should use her economic power constructively and unselfishly rather than for narrow national advantage. On Korea the Secretary of State could say that he was impressed by the speed of Korea's economic advance against the background of a constant political threat in an area of great potential danger.

5 April 1984

CC:

Mr Hum, HKD

Markswicht

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Mark Elliott

Far Eastern Department