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CONFIDENTIAL
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GRS 326
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 201815Z NOV 84
TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1430 OF 20 NOVEMBER
AND TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
YOUR TEL 2748: PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT
1.
HKK 040/57
RECEIVED REGISTRY
2 1 NOV 1984
DESK OFFICER
PA
INDEX
Nor
THE PRIME MINISTER HAS FURTHER CONSIDERED THE TIMINGS
OF HER VISIT TO PEKING AND HONG KONG IN THE LIQHT OF HER
OTHER ENGAGEMENTS AND WISHES TO BRING THE WHOLE PROGRAMME
FORWARD BY ONE DAY, IE LEAVING LONDON PM ON MONDAY 17 DECEMBER
ARRIVING IN PEKING PM TUESDAY 18 DECEMBER AND SO ON. HER
REASON IS THAT SHE HAS BEEN INVITED TO HAVE TALKS WITH
PRESIDENT REAGAN AT CAMP DAVID ON THE MORNINQ OF SATURDAY
22 DECEMBER AND IS NATURALLY ANXIOUS TO ACCEPT.
ADVANCING THE PROGRAMME AS PROPOSED IS THE ONLY PRACTICAL MEANS OF
FITTING IN BOTH FAR EASTERN AND AMERICAN ENGAGEMENTS BEFORE
CHRISTMAS, THOUGH AT THE LOSS OF ONE MORE DAY OF PARLIAMENTARY
TIME.
2.
WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD MAKE AN URQENT APPROACH
TO THE CHINESE FOREIQN MINISTRY AND SEEK CHINESE AGREEMENT TO AN
AMENDMENT AS ABOVE. WE VERY MUCH REGRET THE
CHANGE AND HOPE THAT IT WILL NOT CAUSE THE CHINESE SIDE UNDUE
INCONVENIENCE. WE NOTE ZHOU NAN SAID ON 10 NOVEMBER THAT THE
DATES EARLIER SUGQESTED FELL WITHIN PREMIER ZHAO'S PREFERRED
PERIOD WHICH MIQHT SUGGEST SOME FLEXIBILITY. YOU MAY THINK
IT HELPFUL TO EXPLAIN THE REASONS BEHIND OUR PROPOSAL AND THE
IMPORTANCE THE PRIME MINISTER ATTACHES TO FITTING IN BOTH
IMPORTANT MEETINGS, IE IN PEKING AND IN WASHINGTON, BEFORE
THE CHRISTMAS BREAK.
3. WE VERY MUCH HOPE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO OBTAIN EARLY
CHINESE AGREEMENT. AS YOU WILL UNDERSTAND, THE WASHINQTON VISIT
DEPENDS DIRECTLY ON IT.
4.
ONCE THIS POINT IS ESTABLISHED WE HOPE VERY SOON TO BE IN
A POSITION TO SETTLE THE OUTSTANDING DETAILS OF THE PROGRAMME.
YOU SHOULD INCIDENTALLY RESIST ANY CHINESE ATTEMPTS TO SPREAD
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