TNAG-1302-FCO40-1658-Visits-by-Richard-Luce--Minister-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Co-1984 — Page 43

Mr Luce's Visit

106)

GRS 210

SECRET

DESKBY 12063OZ

FM HONG KONG 120457Z JUL 84

TO IMMEDIATE PEKING

Secret

TELEGRAM NUMBER 637 OF 12 JULY

INFO IMMEDIATE F CO

FOR GOVERNOR FROM BRAY.

HICK OR7/12

RECEIVED IN REGIS

1 2 JUL 1984

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

Mo

en

THE MEDIA MOOD TODAY IS SLIGHTLY LESS PANICKY THAN YESTERDAY. IT WILL TAKE SOME TIME TO RECOVER FROM THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF MR LUCE'S ·

VISIT AT SHORT NOTICE. THE PRINCIPAL CAUSE FOR SUCH REASSURANCE AS HAS EMERGED SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN A BBC REPORT THAT UK WHILE NOT

ADAMANTLY RESISTING THE LIAISON GROUP IS INSISTING THAT IT WORK IN

LONDON OR PEKING BUT NOT IN HONG KONG.

2. IF THE SECRETARY OF STATE DOES ALTER HIS PLANS AND COMES NEXT

WEEK I FEAR WE SHALL HAVE DIFFICULTY IN PREVENTING QUITE SERIOUS ALARM. EVEN THE PROPOSED VISIT DATES AT THE END OF JULY WILL SEEM

VERY SOON.

KTRY

3. IN ORDER TO ATTEMPT SOME PREPARATION OF OPINION YOU MAY WISH TO CONSIDER, APROPOS MR LUCE'S VISIT, SAYING SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT THAT THIS IS ONE IN A CONTINUING SERIES OF VISITS AND YOU ARE SURE

THERE WILL BE OTHERS DURING THE SUMMER AND AUTUMN AS MINISTERS ATTACH

IMPORTANCE TO REGULAR PERSONAL CONTACT WITH OPINION IN HONG KONG

AS THE SITUATION DEVELOPS.

BRAY

90

LIMITED

HKD

FED

PS

PS/MR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR W HARD ING

Secret