TNAG-1339-FCO40-1771-Visit-by-Margaret-Thatcher--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Beijing-fo-1984 — Page 87

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17 DEC 1984

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FM DUBAI 13055OZ DEC 84

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 163 OF 13 DECEMBER

INFO PRIORITY ABU DHABI

FOR CONFERENCE SECTION.

4

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REGISTRY

Action Taken

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YOUR TELNO 85: VISIT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND SECRETARY OF STATE TO PEKING AND HONG KONG: DECEMBER 1984: TRANSIT DUBAI

1. LOCAL AUTHORITIES INFORMED OF STOP-OVER AND OF SECRETARY OF STATE'S DESIRE FOR MINIMUM OF FUSS. VIP LOUNGE BOOKED ON A CONTINGENCY BASIS. IT WOULD HELP ALL CONCERNED IF SECRETARY OF STATE COULD LET US KNOW NEARER THE TIME IF HE WISHES TO MAKE USE OF THIS FACILITY. IT IS MOST UNLIKELY (BUT ALWAYS SUBJECT TO A LAST MINUTE CHANGE OF MIND) THAT THERE WILL BE A GREETER TO

REPRESENT THE GOVERNMENT OF DUBAI.

2.

DUTY OFFICER WILL BRING TO THE BOTTOM OF THE AIRCRAFT STEPS (SECURITY REGULATIONS IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE RECENT HIJACKING WILL NOT PERMIT ANYONE APART FROM AIRPORT OFFICIALS TO BOARD A PLANE) WITH ANY TELEGRAMS FOR THE PARTY. THIS IS A VERY SMALL POST AND WE HAVE NO DEDICATED COMMUNICATOR (OUR TELEX ON LINE TO ABU DHABI IS WORKED ON A PART TIME BASIS BY THE HEAD OF REGISTRY) AND I WOULD THEREFORE BE GRATEFUL IF THE PARTY COULD EXERCISE RESTRAINT WITH TELEGRAMS FOR DESPATCH AT WHAT WILL RE 3 AM LOCAL TIME AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WORKING WEEK. WE WOULD HOPE THEREFORE THAT ONLY THE MOST URGENT TRAFFIC WILL NOT BE ABLE TO AWAIT THE RETURN OF PRIVATE OFFICE TO LONDON.

HINCHCLIFFE

LIMITED

PROTOCOL D

MED

HKD

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COD (T)

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CONFIDENTIAL