TNAG-1371-FCO40-1817-Ministerial-visits-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 178

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MEETING OF MINISTERIAL VISITS COMMITTEE (SUB-COMMITTEE) 25 April 1985.

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1. The Sub-committee considered Departmental proposals

for visits overseas by the Secretary of State and other FCO Ministers in the period September 1985 to January 1986 as set out in the attached schedules.

Secretary of State

2. The Sub-committee noted that the Secretary of State proposes to visit Canada briefly after attending the UNGA in September and Mexico after the CHGM in October.

3. The Sub-committee endorsed the proposal that the Secretary of State might visit three Gulf States (Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait) during the Christmas recess. Together with the proposed visit to the Maghreb in July, the visit would give the Secretary of State a more complete picture of the Arab world. He had only visited Saudi Arabia briefly on a previous occasion. The January recess would be a good time to go to the Gulf because it would then be relatively cool.

4. The Sub-committee also gave high priority to the proposal that the Secretary of State visit the Sub-continent. A Secretary of State had not made a substantive visit to India since 1980. There were problems in our relations with India on which it would be helpful for the Secretary of State to have discussions on the spot. A visit to Pakistan could usefully be fitted in. A visit to Sri Lanka would not however have a high priority. The internal situation was difficult and, as we could not help, it would be better to steer clear.

5. The Sub-committee considered the suggestion in the Private Secretary's minute of 16 April that the visit to the Gulf might be combined with the visit to the Sub-continent. The Sub-committee concluded that there was no objection to combining the two visits. Indeed, as the Secretary of State would need to travel by VC 10 for both, a combined visit would be less expensive. (The sub- committee noted particularly that both Kind Fahd of Saudi Arabia and the Sultan of Oman travelled extensively and unpredictably in their own countries and that the Secretary of State would need to travel by his own aircraft in order to get to see them). Nevertheless, the Committee pointed out that the Secretary of State would find it very tiring to visit five countries during one tour.

6. The Sub-committee endorsed the proposal that the Secretary of State might go to Brazil if not in July than as early as possible in 1986. It was pointed out that the visit should be a substantive one of four or five days. The Sub-committee was not convinced that the Secretary of State need travel by VC 10 on this occasion.

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