TNAG-1445-FCO40-1929-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 71

GRS 250 CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 4121

OF 121046Z DECEMBER 86

INFO PRIORITY PEKING

Confidential

513

HONG KONG TELNO 3951 : CHINESE VISITORS TO HONG KONG.

1. WE HAVE REVIEWD OUR STRATEGY. SEEN FROM HERE IT IS AN IMPORTANT AS IT HAS EVER BEEN TO EXPOSE QUALITY CHINESE OFFICIALS TO HONG KONG. PREFERENCE LIST IN TUR REMAINS UNCHANGED.

2. ZHOU NAN STILL APPEARS TO BE THE KEY SINCE:

(A) HE OF ALL PEOPLE NEEDS EXPOSING TO HONG KONG REALITIES.

(B) HE APPEARS IN EFFECT TO OPERATE A PERSONAL VETO ON VISITS BY OTHERS.

3. HOWEVER WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH TIMING. ZHOU'S LINE IN HIS LAST EXCHANGE WITH SIR E YOUDE HAS DEEPENED EXCO'S DISLIKE OF ALL HE STANDS FOR. ALHTOUGH EXCO EARLIER ADVISED IN FAVOUR OF AN INVITATION WE NEED TO BE SURE WE STILL HAVE LEADING UNOFFICIALS ON BOARD. WE ARE INCLINED NOT TO TEST THIS UNTIL THE NEW YEAR.

4. THAT WILL ALSO BE THE MOMENT TO REVIEW THE TIMING OF A VISIT BY ZHOU. THIS WILL NEED TO BE EXAMINED IN RELATION TO :

(A) THE ARRIVAL OF THE NEW GOVERNOR, AND

(B) THE ISSUE OF THE GREEN PAPER.

AT OFFICIAL LEVEL WE STILL FAVOUR THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE VISIT, BUT THIS WOULD NEED TO BE CLEARLY SEPARATED IN TIME FROM (A) AND (B).

5. THE POINT IS TO MAKE THE INVITATION, AND THUS, WE HOPE, UNBLOCK THE PIPELINE FOR E.G. CHINESE ECONOMIC MINISTERS ON THE ONE HAND AND LU PING ON THE OTHER. WE ARE IN PRACTICE FAR FROM SURE THAT ZHOU HIMSELF WILL THINK IT WISE TO COME IN 1987.

AKERS-JONES

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HMLNAN 6007

LIMITED

PSI MR RENTON

FED

PS

MR GILLMORE.

Confidential