TNAG-1338-FCO40-1770-Visit-by-Margaret-Thatcher--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Beijing-fo-1984 — Page 81

6.

(II)

SINO/SOVIET RELATIONS

(III) SOUTH ASIA

(IV)

KOREA.

PARTICIPATION: YOU HAVE ALREADY RAISED WITH THE CHINESE CUR

WISH THAT SOME UNOFFICIALS SHOULD ATTEND THE SIGNATURE CEREMONY.

YOU SHOULD REFER TO THIS AND PRESS ZHOU FURTHER ON THE CHINESE

POSITION ON PARTICIPATION FROM HONG KONG AS PROPOSED IN HONG

KONG TELNO 3555.

7. THE EXACT COMPOSITION OF THE PRIME MINISTER'S DELEGATION HAS

NOT BEEN FINALLY DECIDED BUT YOU MAY TELL ZHOU THAT SHE WILL BE

ACCOMPANIED, APART FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE, BY SIR P CRADOCK

AND THE GOVERNOR. THERE WILL OF COURSE BE OTHER OFFICIALS, BUT

IT IS NOT ENVISAGED THAT THEY WILL INCLUDE SENIOR ECONOMIC

OFFICIALS (PARA 4 OF YOUR TELNO 2748). THE PRIME MINISTER HAS

ALSO AGREED THAT HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS MAY ATTEND THE

SIGNATURE CEREMONY AS PART OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT DELEGATION

AS PROPOSED BY THE GOVERNOR (HIS TELNO 3452). YOU SHOULD SAY

THAT APART FROM THE GOVERNOR, WE ENVISAGE THAT THE POLITICAL

ADVISER AND ONE OR TWO OTHER OFFICIALS FROM HONG KONG WHO WERE

CLOSELY INVOLVED WITH THE NEGOTIATIONS SHOULD ATTEND THE

SIGNATURE CEREMONY AS PART OF THE PRIME MINISTER'S DELEGATION,

THOUGH THEY WOULD NOT ATTEND THE TALKS. FOR YOUR OWN INFORMATION

WE SHOULD PREFER TO GET THEIR RESPONSE TO THIS GENERAL

PROPOSITION BEFORE PROPOSING SPECIFIC NAMES.

გ.

THE PRIME MINISTER WILL NOT BE INCLUDING BUSINESSMEN IN HER

PARTY. MR THATCHER WILL NOT BE ACCOMPANYING THE PRIME MINISTER.

LADY HOWE WILL PROBABLEY BE ACCOMPANYING THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

9. ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE VISIT: IN PRINCIPLE THE PRIME MINISTER IS

CONTENT FOR THE VISIT TO BE ANNOUNCED NEXT WEEK, BUT WE SHALL

WANT TO BE IN A POSITION TO ANNOUNCE THE WASHINGTON VISIT AT THE

SAME TIME AND CAN NOT (NOT) THEREFORE YET CONFIRM THE DATE FOR

THE ANNOUNCEMENT.

HOWE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF

HD/PUSD

DEP HD/PUSD

RESEARCH D (MR WALKER)

PS

PS/LADY YOUNG PS/MR LUCE PS/PUS

MR DEREK THOMAS

SIR W HARDING MR GOODALL MR WILSON

SIR J FREELAND

-2-

COPIES TO:-

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL PS/HOME SECRETARY

PS/CHANCELLOR OF TH EXCHEQUER

PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL

PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY

COPIES TO:- (VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS NEWS D

MR FIFOOT LEGAL ADVISERS

MR BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS

MR POWELL NO 10 DOWNING ST.

MR INGHAM NO 10 DOWNING ST.

MR MARTIN ASST STAFF CABINET OFFICE MR CARTLEDGE CABINET OFFICE

MR COLVIN CABINET OFFICE PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE

PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL

SIR P CRADOCK ROOM K195

SIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING ST.

MR KELLY

TREASURY

Confidential