TNAG-1472-FCO40-2003-Ministerial-visits-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 145

Rechicted

GRS 300

RESTRICTED

FM ISLAMABAD

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 512

OF 210216Z JULY 86

INFO PRIORITY NEW DELHI, DHAKA, HONG KONG

YOUR TEL NO 438 : VISIT BY HOME OFFICE MINISTER OF STATE, MR WADDINGTON

1.

SUBJECT TO HM AMBASSADOR'S VIEWS, WE SHOULD VERY MUCH WELCOME A VISIT BY MR WADDINGTON. IT WOULD ENABLE HIM TO COMPARE CONDITIONS HERE NOW WITH WHAT HE SAW IN 1983., AND WOULD DEMONSTRATE TO PAKISTANI MINISTERS AND SENIOR OFFICIALS THAT WE ARE CONSCIOUS OF THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT IMMIGRATION INTO THE UK AND CONDITIONS OF LIFE FOR PAKISTANIS SETTLING THERE.

2.

THERE ARE, HOWEVER, PROBLEMS OVER THE PROPOSED TIMING. THE RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY OF MUHARRAM IS SCHEDULED TO FALL ON 14/15 SETEMBER BUT MAY SLIP A DAY DEPENDING ON THE SIGHTING OF THE MOON. GOVERNMENT OFFICES AND THIS EMBASSY WILL BE CLOSED ON THOSE TWO DAYS. IT WOULD' THEREFORE BE BETTER FOR THE VISIT TO PAKISTAN TO BEGIN NO EARLIER THAN 17 SEPTEMBER. HOWEVER, THIS WOULD CLASH WITH THE PROJECTED VISIT BY LORD AND LADY LUCAS (PUSS, DT!) WHICH, AS FAR AS WE KNOW, IS DUE TO BEGIN ON 17 SEPTEMBER AND WOULD RUN FOR FIVE DAYS. YOU WILL WISH TO SPEAK TO HM AMBASSADOR BUT WE BELIEVE WE COULD COPE WITH TWO CONCURRENT MINISTERIAL VISITS, GIVING EACH THE REQUIRED ATTENTION AND SUPPORT, PROVIDED THE MINISTERS WERE NOT BOTH IN THE SAME CITY AT THE SAME TIME. THE DETAILED PLANNING FOR MR WADDINGTON'S AND LORD LUCAS'S VISITS WOULD THEREFORE NEED TO BE THE SUBJECT OF CLOSE CONSULTATION WITH THE DTI AND HOME OFFICE. WE SHOULD ENVISAGE MR WADDINGTON'S PROGRAMME BEING ON THE SAME LINES AS IN 1983, IE CONFINED TO ISLAMABAD AND MIRPUR

JOHNSON

Пи

PA The

ра

Vizit

47.

LIMITE

мов

SAD.

HKD

PS/MR EGGAR PS/PUS

Mr BARRINGTON

mrz.wics

"Restricted

HKK 02715

RECEIVED IN RÉGISTRY

29 JUL 1986

DESK OFFICER INDEX

REGISTRY

PA

Action Taken

782477