со
GRS 550
CONFIDENTIAL
FM PEKING
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 085
OF 1607O8Z JANUARY 86
CONFIDENTIAL
1 HRR 027/4
HECHALL
STRY
17 JAN 1986
STATY
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG
•DRA
PA
vex Taken
Awi Roman
HONG KONG TELNO 115: VISITS BY SENIOR CHINESE FIGURES TO HONG
KONG
PA | Vista
1. I AGREE THAT WE SHOULD AIM TO KEEP UP THE MOMENTUM OF VISITS TO
HONG KONG BY INFLUENTIAL CHINESE LEADERS. IN THE FIRST PLACE, 1 THINK OUR TARGETS SHOULD BE IN THE SMALL GROUP OF LEADERS WE KNOW TO BE INVOLVED IN THE FORMULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICY OF ZONG KONG. I DO NOT THEREFORE FAVOUR ISSUING AN
EARLY INVITATION TO CHEN MUHUA. I HAVE RESERVATIONS TOO, ABOUT THE IDEA OF ISSUING A LATE INVITATION, FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:
(A) AT SEVEN OR EIGHT MEETINGS, I HAVE NOT FOUND HER A PARTICULARLY
IMPRESSIVE OR SYMPATHETIC PERSON.
(B) POLITICALLY, SHE IS TO THE LEFT OF THE MAINSTREAM (SHE WAS
CONSPICUOUSLY PASSED OVER AT LAST SEPTEMBER'S PARTY MEETINGS FOR PROMOTION TO THE POLITBURO AND REMAINS, AS SHE HAS BEEN FOR SOMETIME, ONLY AN ALTERNATE MEMBER).
(C) SHE HAS A POOR REPUTATION FOR SUCCUMBING TO THE MATERIAL TEMPT- ATIONS PROVIDED BY TRAVEL ABROAD. IF SHE WERE SEEN TO BE ON THE RECEIVING END OFFGENEROUS HOSPITALITY IN HONG KONG, THIS MIGHT WELL INCLINE HER COLLEAGUES HERE TO BE DISMISSIVE OF ANYTHING POSITIVE THAT SHE REPORTZD ABOUT HONG KONG.
(D) THE BANKING SECTOR IN HONG KONG IS ONE WHICH THE CHINESE ALREADY UNDERSTAND WELL THROUGH THEIR OWN ESTABLISHED BANKING NETWORK IN HONG KONG.
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2. IN MY VIEW, THE NEXT. PERSON WE SHOULD AIM TO GET TO HONG KONG IS WU XUEQIAN. HIS RECENT PROMOTION TO THE POLITBURO PUTS HIM IN THE
TOP LAYER OF THE PARTY HIERARCHY. HIS STAUS AS FOREIGN MINISTER
MIGHT BE APROBLEM. BUT ONE WAY OF GETTING ROUND THAT WOULD BE TO
ASK HIM TO STOP OFF IN HONG KONG FOR A FEW DAYS ON HIS WAY TO OR FROM ANOTHER DESTINATION IN EAST ASIA, AUSTRALASIA OR THE AMERICAS.
3. I DO NOT THINK WE NEED PURSUE THE POSSIBILITY OF INVITING ZHOU NAN IN HIS OWN RIGHT. ALTHOUGH HE PLAYS AN INPORTANT PART IN THE IMPLEMENTATION POLICY AND IS A MEMBER OF THE BASIC LAW DRAFTING COMMITTEE I DO NOT THINK WE WOULD GAIN MUCH FROM A VISIT BY HIM IN TERMS OF GETTING THE HONG KONG MESSAGE' (PARAGRAPH 20F TUR) THROUGH TO TOP CHINESE LEADERS. BUT IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE TO
INVITE ZHOU TO ACCOMPANY WU.
CONFIDENTIAL
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