TNAG-1338-FCO40-1770-Visit-by-Margaret-Thatcher--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Beijing-fo-1984 — Page 113

CODE 18-77

CONFIDENTIAL

HKK

RECEIVER

Reference

040/57

REGISTRY

2 1 NOV 1984

103)

FICER

PA

20

Mr Ashton, FED

PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO CHINA: BANQUET SPEECH

1.

Thank you for copying to me your minute of 19 November to Mr Cowper-Coles, together with draft notes for the Prime Minister's speech at the banquet in Peking.

2.

I have the following points on the outline speech:

(a) I think Hong Kong and the signing of the agreement will have to appear earlier in the speech. It is after all the main purpose of Mrs Thatcher's visit, and the audience in Hong Kong will be sitting on the edge of their seats waiting for it. I therefore recommend that it should be included at the end of para 2 rather than at the end of para 5. We will let you and planning staff see a draft passage as soon as possible.

(b) I think the passage on Hong Kong should replace the second sentence of para 2 which refers to the position of Hong Kong in history. This is a point we wish to avoid, because it might provoke the Chinese to refer to their view of the history of Hong Kong, and the treaties.

I

(c) I think you should omit the first sentence of para 6. think the Chinese might find a reference to our consistency of purpose in the negotiations a bit ironic.

(d) I agree with the reference in the first sentence of para 9 to trust. You may wish to expand this to refer to the new era of friendship. Although we have to tread carefully on this for Hong Kong reasons the Chinese will lay it on thick and we must respond. For the same reasons you will wish to flesh out the

sections on trade and technology. para 3 of Petry Felno 2723)

21 November 1984

Jonaizen Rill

J N Powell

Hong Kong Department WH 305

233 3722

Cc:

Mr Cowper-Coles, Planning Staff

CONFIDENTIAL