TNAG-1301-FCO40-1657-Visits-by-Richard-Luce--Minister-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Co-1984 — Page 59

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we are fighting their corner for them in a critical area in which they will be looking for assurances. This could, inter alia, significantly affect their willingness to accept our general formulation on strategy and timing.

Secretary of State's Visit

4.

Mr Luce would find it very helpful if he could say publicly while he is in Hong Kong that the Secretary of State hopes to visit the Colony shortly. Would there be any objection to this?

General

5. I should record that there are a number of other issues on which Mr Luce is bound to be pressed, such as that of pensions. I have been in contact separately with the Department about this. Mr Luce hopes that he can have a reasonably forthcoming line to use. There are other difficult areas, such as 'acceptability', on which EXCO have shown themselves to be sensitive, but on which there really is not much more we can say in addition to what they were told last January. It would be his intention to steer discussion away from such issues.

H. Wamen. Grish.

HB Warren-Gash PS/Mr Luce

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