TNAG-1468-FCO40-1997-Visits-by-members-of-the-Office-of-the-Unofficial-Members-of-1986 — Page 195

GRS 300

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 1320

OF 03015OZ MAY 86

INFO PRIORITY PEKING

CONFIDENTIAL

See 3

FOLLOWING PERSONAL FOR HUM, HONG KONG DEPARTMENT FROM GOVERNOP

1. IT WILL BE TWO YEARS IN SEPTEMBER SINCE UNOFFICIAL MEMPERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL VISITED LONDON TO RE CONSULTED BY THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE DEFORE CARINET TOOK THE DECISION TO AUTHORISE THE INITIALLING OF THE JOINT DECLARATION. AFTER THAT MEETING THE PRIME MINISTER TOLD ME THAT SHE DID NOT WISH TO LOOSE TOUCH WITH THE UNOFFICIALS: AND FOREIGN OFFICE MINISTERS ALSO EXPRESSED A WISH TO MAINTAIN THE CLOSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EXCO AND MINISTERS IN LONDON BUILT UP DURING THE NEGOTIATIONS.

2. BY CONVENIENT COINCIDENCE THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL IS HOLDING A DINNER IN LONDON ON SEPTEMBER 11. # SHALL BE ATTENDING THE DINNER AND MISS DUNN WILL, OF COURSE, ALSO BE THERE. IT SEEMS

TO ME THAT THIS WOULD PROVIDE A USEFUL PEG ON WHICH TO HANG A VISIT BY THE UNOFFICIALS TO LONDON TO CALL ON FCO MINISTERS AND THE P.M.

3. THE TIMING WOULD BE RIGHT BECAUSE, AT LEAST ON PRESENT EVIDENCE, THERE WOULD BE NO MAJOR ISSUE WHICH COULD GIVE THE VISIT UNDUE OP IMMEDIATE SIGNIFICANCE. NATIONALITY WILL BE OUT OF THE WAY. IT WILL BE SOME TIME AHEAD OF THE 1987 PEVIEW. IT WOULD ALSO FALL IN THE

MONTH BEFORE THE ROYAL VISIT HERE.

4. IT COULD BE THEREFORE PRESENTED AS PROVIDING A USEFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR A GENERAL DISCUSSION ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HONG KONG AND THE UK, THE STATE OF FEELING IN HONG KONG, AND PROGRESS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JOINT DECLARATION. IT WOULD BE PUBLIC EVIDENCE OF REALITY OF THE STATEMENT IN THE COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AFTER THE MEETING AT NUMBER 10 IN SEPTEMBER 1984 THAT IT WAS AGREED THAT THE SAME CLOSE CONSULTATION WILL CONTINUE IN THE FUTURE'. THE DEMONSTRATION OF THE IMPORTANCE WHICH HMG CONTINUE TO ATTACH TO CONSULTATION WITH EXCO WOULD BALANCE THE HIGH LEVEL ATTENTION SHOWN BY PEKING TO PROMINENT HONG KONG PERSONALITIES (CF DENG XIAOPING'S RECENT TALK WITH Y K PAO AND PROMINENT HONG KONG PRO-CHINA BUSINESSMEN, AND THE ATTENTION SHOWN BY JI PENGFE TO THE MEMBERS OF THE BASIC LAW DRAFTING COMMITTEE).

5. 1 PROPOSE TO SUGGEST A VISIT OF THIS KIND WHEN I SEE MR RENTON AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE IN ABOUT 10 DAYS TIME.

YOUDE

HKK 02615-

LIMITED

ико

SIR WHARDING MR WILSON

CONFIDENTIAL

IND

13 MAY 1986

JABB315

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GRS 85