TNAG-1371-FCO40-1817-Ministerial-visits-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 43

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OCMIAN 6075

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OO PEKIN

FM FCOLN TO HOKON

03170OZ SEP

GRS 202

HAK 027/6

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY - 4 SEP 1985

DESK OFFICER

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TO IMMEDIATE PEKING

TELNO 775

OF 031700Z SEPT 85

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, BTC HONG KONG

FROM FED

YOUR TELNO 1266: CABINET RESHUFFLE: MINISTERIAL VISITS

OF THE MINISTERIAL CHANGES ANNOUNCED LAST NIGHT, THE FOLLOWING AFFECT PLANNED VISITS TO CHINA:

1.

A) MR LUCE HAS LEFT THE FCO TO REPLACE LORD GOWRIE.

B)

MR BRITTAN HAS REPLACED MR TEBBIT.

C) LORD YOUNG'S RESPONSIBILITIES HAVE BEEN EXPANDED TO

INCLUDE THE EMPLOYMENT PORTFOLIO.

D) MR BUTLER HAS BEEN REPLACED BY MR LAMONT (FORMERLY DTI).

DESPITE EARLIER PRESS RUMOURS, MR CHANNON REMAINS MINISTER FOR

TRADE.

2.

BUT,

WE ARE TELEGRAPHING SEPARATELY ON MR LUCE'S VISIT.

FOR YOUR OWN INFORMATION, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS LITTLE

CHANCE THAT HIS SUCCESSOR WILL BE ABLE TO VISIT CHINA AS PLANNED.

WE HOPE TO LET YOU KNOW THE POSITION SHORTLY. WE IMAGINE THE

CHINESE WOULD UNDERSTAND THE REASONS FOR CANCELLATION OR

POSTPONEMENT AND NO REAL DAMAGE WOULD Ensue.

3. WE SHALL SEEK TO MINIMISE DISRUPTION TO OTHER VISITS AND

WILL LET YOU KNOW ASAP HOW MATTERS STAND. WE HAVE ALREADY HAD

ENCOURAGING PRELIMINARY INDICATIONS THAT LORD YOUNG MAY RETAIN

HIS INTEREST IN CHINA.

4.

PEKING PLEASE PASS GIST OF PARA 2 ABOVE AS APPROPRIATE TO

SHANGHAI.

HOWE

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