TNAG-1371-FCO40-1817-Ministerial-visits-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 213

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PROGRAMME OF MINISTERIAL VISITS, 1985

1. We have completed our annual review of possible inward and outward Ministerial visits for 1985 and a proposed programme is attached at Annex A. This has been drawn up in consultation with all the Ministerial and Chiefs of Staff Private Offices and other interested parties within the MOD, and also takes account the views of the FCO.

2. As in previous years, the programme does not generally include proposals for visits to our major NATO partners. Visits to France, Germany, and the US tend to be arranged, often at short notice, as circumstances require them; in addition, the meetings of the Defence Planning Committee, Nuclear Planning Group and Eurogroup provide a regular forum for the exchange of views and an opportunity for bilateral meetings, as do the bi- annual Anglo/German and Anglo/French summit meetings. However, there may be occasions where political considerations justify a more formal meeting and it is for this reason that a visit by the French Defence Minister has been proposed for 1985.

3. Outside NATO, there are three countries which deserve par- ticular attention. Cman is alone among the Middle East countries in which the UK has a significant defence interest yet to receive a visit by the Secretary of State; this has already caused some comment by the Omanis and were Can to be omitted from S of S's programme this year, there would be serious risk of damage to Anglo-Omani relations, and not least to our very considerable defence sales interests in the country. Since visits by CDS and

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CONFIDENTIAL