SECRET
6. On timing, the visit would fit well. It would come shortly after the next round of talks, at present scheduled for 22/23 February. It would therefore enable Mr Luce to go over the ground with EXCO on the developments in the last two rounds. The timing is also likely to be right for Mr Luce to discuss personally with EXCO some of the most sensitive papers we will be putting to the Chinese (given its high political content, it will be particularly valuable for an FCO Minister to be present when the proposed paper on Nationality is discussed for the first time with EXCO).
7. There is also a further dimension. EXCO Unofficials have been back to London twice since Mr Luce's visit last September and have seen a good deal of Ministers, including the Prime Minister. Mr Luce would therefore propose to make use of his visit to counteract the impression this may have created, and which has come in for some criticism in the press, that we deal with EXCO alone and are not sensitive to other strands of Hong Kong opinion. Mr Luce has asked that his programme should enable him to meet as wide a cross-section of the community as possible.
8. Mr Luce does not believe that this need pre-empt in any way the Secretary of State's proposals to visit Hong Kong himself in the week after Easter (which, as you know, Mr Luce warmly supports). Both visits will be important to the maintenance of confidence at a delicate time.
MALAYSIA
9.
On the way back, Mr Luce would like to make a 24-hour stopover in Malaysia. This would be partly for familiarisation purposes, but is also designed to set up a normal working dialogue with the leaders of this important but sensitive country, and to help lay the groundwork for the Prime Minister's visit there in the autumn.
10.
For the Hong Kong and Malaysia legs, Mr Luce would be accompanied by Mr Donald's successor as AUS, who would fly directly to Hong Kong for the purpose.
11.
I attach a draft Private Secretary letter to send to No lo if the proposal is agreed.
H. Wewe. Gash
HB Warren-Gash PS/Mr Luce
SECRET
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.