TNAG-1339-FCO40-1771-Visit-by-Margaret-Thatcher--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Beijing-fo-1984 — Page 368

CONFIDENTIAL

TOP COPY

HKK 0440/57

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

04 DEC 1984

183

GPS 350

CONFIDENTIAL

DESKBY 0312OOZ

FM HONG KONG 03102OZ DEC 24

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 3686 OF 03 DECEMBER

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

(181

175

LINK OFFICER

INDE..

REGISTRY

PA

Action Taken

YOUR TELNO 2393 AND PEKING TELNO 2864: HONG KONG

AGREEMENT: PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT: HONG KONG ATTENDANCE

1. SUBJECT TO THE GOVERNOR'S VIEWS, WE DO NOT SEE MUCH MERIT IN PRESSING THE CHINESE TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF OBSERVERS TO A FIGURE BELOW 100. THE CHINESE WOULD NO DOUBT FACE GENUINE DIFFICULTIES IN KEEPING THE NUMBERS DOWN, AND FROM OUR POINT OF VIEW THE TOTAL SIZE OF THE GROUP IS LESS IMPORTANT THAN THE NEED FOR IT TO BE BALANCED. WE THEREFORE THINK THAT WE SHOULD PUT FORWARD OUR OWN SUGGESTIONS, IN ADDITION TO UNOFFICIALS. WE ALSO THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE READY WITH A TOTAL OF SOME 50 NAMES (ON THE BASIS, WHICH THE AMBASSADOR HAS EMPHASISED, THAT THE CEREMONY IS A JOINT OCCASION). IN PARACTICE SOME OF THE NAMES ON OUR LIST WOULD ALSO APPEAR ON THE CHINESE LIST.

2. AS REGARDS UNOFFICIALS, WE THINK THAT A TOTAL OF 10 WOULD

BE RIGHT I.E. THE SAME NUMBER AS WENT TO PEKING FOR THE 1 OCTOBER CELEBRATIONS. IF THE GOVERNOR AGREES, HE WILL NO DOUBT WISH TO DISCUSS NAMES WITH SIR S Y CHUNG (WHO MAY IN TURN WISH TO CONSULT UNOFFICIALS NOW IN LONDON).

3. AS REGARDS OFFICIALS, WE HAVE NOT SEEN A COMPLETE LIST OF THE LONDON DELEGATION AND MUST ACCEPT YOUR JUDGMENT IN THE SECOND SENTENCE OF PARA 2 OF YOUR TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE. IT OCCURS TO US THAT IN ADDITION TO DAVIES, IT MIGHT BE APPROPRIATE FOR A FEW OTHER HONG KONG OFFICIALS, WHO HAVE BEEN CLOSELY CONCERNED WITH THE NEGOTIATIONS OR WHO HAVE SOME OTHER LOCUS STANDI, TO BE PRESENT AS OBSERVERS. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS AN OBVIOUS CANDIDATE. THE LIST IN MIFT INCLUDES OTHER POSSIBILITIES.

--CONFIDENTIAL