DD 290100Z PEKING
GRS 422
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НСК
HKCK Q23/
RECEME
2 0 JUN 1824
@
INOLX
003
29157
10
SECRET
FUTURE EGRET
DESKBY 290100Z
FM FCO 281630Z JUN 84
TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
TELEGRAM NUMBER 670 OF 28 JUNE
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
FUTURE EGRET
SECRETARY OF STATE'S PROPOSED VISIT TO CHINA
PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR FROM CLIFT
1.
MINISTERS AGREED ON 28 JUNE THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE
SHOULD PLAN ON PAYING A FURTHER VISIT TO PEKING AT THE END OF
JULY IN ORDER TO SUM UP THE POSITION AT THAT STAGE AND TO PREPARE
FOR THE FINAL PHASE OF NEGOTIATION.
2. I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR AND THE GOVERNOR'S VIEWS ON TIMING
AND ON THE ORDER OF VISITS TO CHINA AND HONG KONG. BEARING IN MIND
EXCO'S VIEWS IN APRIL, IT MIGHT MAKE SENSE FOR THE SECRETARY OF OF STATE TO VISIT HONG KONG BEFORE PEKING THIS TIME. I DO NOT THINK
K THAT THE
THAT THE CHINESE WOULD HAVE STRONG REASON TO OBJECT AND IT COULD
HELP CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG. IF YOU AND THE GOVERNOR AGREED WITH
THIS, THE QUESTION WOULD THEN BE WHETHER THE SECRETARY OF STATE
RETURNED TO HONG KONG BRIEFLY AFTER PEKING.
3.
THE PRIVATE OFFICE'S STRONG PREFERENCE IS FOR THE
SECRETARY OF STATE TO MAKE THIS VISIT WITHIN THE WORKING WEEK
BEGINNING 23 JULY SO THAT HE IS BACK IN LONDON BY 30 JULY IN
ORDER TO DEAL WITH OTHER WORK BEFORE HE GOES ON LEAVE ON 3
AUGUST. ON THAT BASIS WE SUGGEST THAT HE SHOULD LEAVE LONDON ON
22 JULY, ARRIVING IN HONG KONG ON 23 JULY. AFTER DISCUSSIONS IN
HONG KONG (MAINLY EXCO) ON 24 JULY, HE WILL TRAVEL TO PEKING
ON THE 25TH. THIS WOULD ALLOW THAT AFTERNOON AND THE GREATER
PART OF 26 AND 27 JULY FOR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE. HE
WOULD FLY BACK TO HONG KONG ON THE EVENING OF 27 JULY. HE WOULD
SEE EXCO AGAIN AND MAKE ANY PUBLIC STATEMENT NECESSARY ON THE
28TH, FLYING BACK TO LONDON OVERNIGHT ON 28/29 JULY.
*
1
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