TNAG-1339-FCO40-1771-Visit-by-Margaret-Thatcher--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Beijing-fo-1984 — Page 129

GPS 280

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL HKK 040/57

040/57

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

13 DEC1984

COPY

FM HONG KONG 13084OZ DEC 84

TO IMMEDEDIATE FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 3781 OF 13 DECEMBER

INDEX

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

w

PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO HONG KONG : GOVERNMENT HOUSE DINNER

Y

Action Taken

7/2

335

see

378

355

I HAVE LOOKED AGAIN AT THE GUEST LIST FOR THE DINNER AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE ON 20 DECEMBER.

2. I PROPOSE TO INCLUDE MR CH TUNG IN PLACE OF SIR Y K PAO (YOUR TELNO 2465).

306

3. I ALSO CONSIDER THAT THERE IS A STRONG CASE FOR INVITING MR XU JIATUN, DIRECTOR OF THE NEW CHINA NEWS AGENCY IN HONG KONG, TO THE DINNER. HE WILL BE INVITED TO THE RECEPTION AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE EARLIER IN THE EVENING TOGETHER WITH A FEW REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NEW CHINA NEWS AGENCY AND BANK OF CHINA. THIS FOLLOWS THE PATTERN FOR THE PRIME MINISTER'S PREVIOUS VISIT IN 1982. HOWEVER, THE SITUATION IS NOW VERY DIFFERENT FROM SEPTEMBER. THE PRIME MINISTER WILL HAVE JUST RETURNED FROM SIGNING THE AGREEMENT, AND FROM MEETING CHINESE LEADERS IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF GOODWILL AND COOPERATION. IT SEEMS APPROPRIATE, AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND, FOR CHINA'S UNOFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVE IN HONG KONG TO BE GIVEN SOME GREATER FORM OF RECOGNITION THAN IN THE PAST. UNLESS YOU SEE OBJECTION, I THEREFORE PROPOSE THAT MR XU (PLUS AN INTERPRETER) SHOULD BE INVITED TO THE DINNER ON 20 DECEMBER.

4. IF MR XU'S ATTENDANCE IS AGREED, IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO INVITE TWO MORE GUESTS ONLY IN ADDITION TO THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN INVITED AND ARE ABLE TO ACCEPT. THE PRESENT GUEST LIST DOES NOT INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MAJOR BRITISH TRADING @IRMS IN HONG KONG. I SLRCEZWWHIDQ

E THAT MR SIMON KESWICK,

CHAIRMAN AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF JARDINE MATHESON AND COMPANY, AND MR MICHAEL MILES, CHAIRMAN OF THE SWIRE GROUP, SHOULD ALSO BE INVITED.

5. I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL TOKNOW IF YOU SEE ANY OBJECTION TO AN INVITATION BEING ISSUED TO MR XU, AN INTERPRETER, MR KESWICK AND MR MILES TO THE DINNER ON 20 DECEMBER. THEIR NAMES WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE PROGRAMME WHICH IS BEING SENT TO YOU TONIGHT.

YOUDE

LIMITED

HKD

FED

PROTOCOL D

MR WILSON

COPIES

TO

SIR

P

CRADOCK (2)

PS / NO 10 DOWNING ST.

CONFIDENTIAL