TNAG-1316-FCO40-1716-Future-of-Hong-Kong-preparation-of-the-Joint-Declaration-1984 — Page 5

Sir P Cradock

3718

SECRET

760

Secretary of State.

HKIL040/14

FROM: A C GALSWORTHY,

DATE:

HKD

31 August 1984

cssue

Private Secretary

TIMING OF EXCO VISIT TO LONDON

1.

WA3/s

The cancellation of the Prime Minister's visit to Asia means

that the EXCO visit can take place rather later in September than

was originally envisaged. This is a great improvement, since there

is a much better chance that the visit can take place after

negotiations have been completed in Peking. In order to allow for

signature in the last week in September it would be necessary for

the visit to take place in the week beginning 17 September at the

latest. The Secretary of State will be away from 17 to 19

September. This leaves 20 and 21 September. I believe that a provisional appointment has been put in the Prime Minister's diary

for the morning of 21 September.

absence

2. The only drawback to this timing is that if the Prime Minister

intends to put the final agreement to Cabinet, this would have to be

on Thursday 20 September, and thus before EXCO had come. The

Govemor has represented that the visit should therefore take place

before 20 September. But given the Secretary of State's

this will not be possible. I do not think that this is an

insuperable problem, because we shall already know EXCO's views, in

advance of this visit.

In any event submission to the Cabinet will

not be a public event, and the Prime Minister has if necessary other

means of consulting her colleagues.

Yes.

SECRET