TNAG-1338-FCO40-1770-Visit-by-Margaret-Thatcher--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Beijing-fo-1984 — Page 263

CONFIDENTIAL FUTURE EGRET

14643

1

2.

I STRONGLY COMMEND IT TO THIS HOUSE, AND TO THE PEOPLE OF

HONG KONG.'

WE HAD HITHERTO INTENDED THAT THE VISIT TO PEKING SHOULD NO

BE FORMALLY ANNOUNCED AT LEAST UNTIL THE WORK OF ASSESSING

OPINION IN HONG KONG WAS COMPLETE. MCLAREN'S PERSONAL LETTER OF

8 OCTOBER TO GALSWORTHY EXPRESSED MUCH THE SAME VIEW.

3.

THE TEXT OF THE DRAFT SPEECH DOES MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE

VISIT TO PEKING FOR SIGNATURE IS CONDITIONAL ON PARLIAMENTARY

ACCEPTANCE OF THE AGREEMENT, AND BY IMPLICATION THEREFORE

CONDITIONAL ON THE OUTCOME OF THE ASSESSMENT OF OPINION IN HONG

KONG. NEVERTHELESS WE STILL SEE A DANGER THAT THE

ANNOUNCEMENT NOW OF THE PRIME MINISTER'S INTENTION TO GO TO

PEKING MIGHT BE SEEN IN HONG KONG AS PREUDGING THE OUTCOME OF

THE ASSESSMENT, AND REINFORCE THE VIEW THAT THE ASSESSMENT IS A

USELESS EXERCISE. WE SHOULD BE MOST GRATEFUL FOR THE GOVERNOR'S

VIEWS ON THIS.

4.

THIS TIMING FOR THE ANNOUNCEMENT IS CLEARLY ALSO DIFFICULT

FROM THE CHINESE POINT OF VIEW, SINCE WE HAVE NOT YET INFORMED THEM

DEFINITIVELY OF THE PRIME MINISTER'S FIRM DECISION TO GO TO PEKING.

GIVEN THAT THE PRIME MINISTER IS NOW ON HER WAY TO DELHI, THERE IS NO PROSPECT THAT WE COULD GET INSTRUCTIONS TO PEKING TO SPEAK TO THE

CHINESE BEFORE EARLY 6 NOVEMBER PEKING TIME. THIS WOULD BE

VERY SHORT NOTICE OF OUR INTENTION TO ANNOUNCE THE VISIT.

5. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR THE AMBASSADOR'S VIEW OF WHETHER

THIS WOULD BE LIKELY TO UPSET THE CHINESE.

6. GIVEN THE PRIME MINISTER'S ABSENCE THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO

DO BEFORE MONDAY, BUT WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR REPLIES DESKBY

05090OZ.

HOWE

FUTURE EGRET

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CONFIDENTIAL