TNAG-1304-FCO40-1660-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1984 — Page 188

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ZZ HONG KONG

GRS 200

SECRET

FM FCO 131235Z JULY 84

TO FLASH HONG KONG

SECRET

TOP COPY

32144

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1

HKK 027/21

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

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16 JUL 1984

K OFFICER

& B

28

TELEGRAM NUMBER 1284 OF 13 JULY

AND TO FLASH PEKING

MIPT: SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT.

1. FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF ANNOUNCEMENT:

SIR GEOFFREY HOWE WILL VISIT PEKING BETWEEN 27 AND 31 JULY AT THE INVITATION OF CHINESE STATE COUNSELLOR AND FOREIGN MINISTER, MR WU XUEQIAN. HE WILL CONTINUE HIS SERIES OF DISCUSSIONS WITH MR WU XUEQIAN AND OTHER CHINESE LEADERS ON ALL ASPECTS OF HONG KONG'S FUTURE. SIR GEOFFREY HOWE WILL VISIT HONG KONG ON HIS WAY TO AND FROM PEKING. THIS WILL GIVE HIM THE OPPORTUNITY TO LISTEN TO THE VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. HE WILL MEET THE GOVERNOR AND MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS, AND OTHER REPRESENTATIVES OF THE HONG KONG COMMUNITY.

2.

YOU SHOULD MAKE THE FOLLOWING SUPPLEMENTARY POINTS: (A) THE PACE OF VISITS IS BOUND TO SPEED UP AS SEPTEMBER APPROACHES.

(B) NOTHING UNUSUAL IN SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT NOW. PURPOSE

TO CARRY FORWARD TALKS AT HIGHEST LEVEL.

IS

(C)

WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY BE OTHER VISITS TO FOLLOW IN CONNECTION WITH THE TALKS. PART OF SAME PATTERN.

(D) STILL SOME WAY TO GO TO AGREEMENT.

BUT TALKS CONTINUING

TO MAKE PROGRESS.

CONFIDENT THAT AGREEMENT CAN BE REACHED.

HOWE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF

HD/PUSD

DEP HD/PUSD

RESEARCH D (MR WALKER)

LEGAL ADVISERS (SIR J FREELAND) PS

PS/LADY YOUNG

PS/MR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR W HARDING

SIR C TICKELL MR GOODALL

COPIES TO:-

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

PS/HOME SECRETARY

PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL

PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY

COPIES TO:- (VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS NEWS DEPT

MR BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS

MR FIFOOT LEGAL ADVISERS

MR POWELL NO 10 DOWNING ST.

MR INGHAM NO 10 DOWNING ST.

MR MARTIN ASSESSMENTS STAFF CABINET OFFI

MR CARTLEDGE CABINET OFFICE

MR BRENNAN

CABINET OFFICE

PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE

PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL

SIR P CRADOCK ROOM K195

SIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING ST.

SECRET