TNAG-1434-FCO40-1917-Hong-Kong-leading-personality-Sir-Yue-Kong-Pao--businessman-1986 — Page 53

50

ZCZC

OCMIAN 8588 RESTRICTED

DD 132200Z PEKIN

FM FCOLN TO PEKIN

131545Z OCT

GRS 389

RESTRICTED

FM FCO

RESTRICTED

TO DESKBY 132200Z PEKING

TELNO 1252

OF 131545Z OCTOBER 86

HKK 01012

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

2 8 OCT 1986

68588-2.

Si

DESK OFFICER

REGISTRY

INDEX

PA

Action Taken

FROM FED

48

YOUR TELNO 1969: Y K PAO

1. PARA 5 OF TUR ASKS FOR URGENT ADVICE ON THE PROPOSAL FOR

A PRIVATE MEETING BETWEEN BRITISH AND CHINESE LEADERS ONCE

A YEAR.

2. WE, LIKE YOU, ARE UNAWARE OF ANY FORMAL PROPOSAL. THERE

HAVE BEEN SOME UNOFFICIAL DISCUSSIONS TO WHICH MEMBERS OF THE

STAFF AT NO 10 HAVE CONTRIBUTED, ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A

DITCHLEY TYPE MEETING TO ENABLE CHINESE AND BRITISH LEADERS TO

MEET INFORMALLY. THIS IDEA HAD BEEN MENTIONED TO Y K PAO

WHO HAD AGREED THAT THERE WERE A NUMBER OF POTENTIAL PROBLEMS.

3. WE HAVE DISCUSSED WITH NO 10 WHO WILL BE BRIEFING THE

PRIME MINISTER FOR HER MEETING WITH Y K PAO ON THE EVENING OF

13 OCTOBER. WE SUGGEST THE SECRETARY OF STATE TAKES THE

FOLLOWING LINE IF ZHAO RAISES IT WITH HIM:

A) WE WELCOME THE PROSPECT OF CLOSER RELATIONS WITH THE CHINESE

AND WOULD LIKE TO DEVELOP OPPORTUNITIES FOR INFORMAL TALKS:

B) WE ARE PARTICULARLY KEEN TO TRY TO INJECT SUBSTANCE AND

CONTENT INTO OUR BILATERAL EXCHANGES:

C)

PARLIAMENTARY PRESSURES MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR A GROUP

OF SENIOR BRITISH MINISTERS TO TRAVEL AS FAR AS CHINA AND TO

28

10

1

RESTRICTED