SECRET
SECRET
TOP COP
на
RECEIVED A REGISTRY
12 JAN 1988
314
074002
MDHIAN 1407
FM PEKING
TO DESKBY 22090OZ F CO
TELNO 2213
OF 220636Z DECEMBER 1987
DESIC OFFICER
INDEX
PA
INFO DESKBY 22070OZ HONG KONG
FOLLOWING FOR MCLAREN.
YOUR TELNO.3328 TO HONG KONG: INVITTION TO CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER.
1.
PARAGRAPH 4 OF YOUR TUR INVITED MY VIEWS, AS WELL AS THOSE OF THE GOVERNOR, ON THE CLASH BETWEEN THE DATES OF JLG IX AND THOSE PROPOSED BY THE CHINESE FOR WU XUEQIAN'S VISIT TO THE UK. I STAND BY THE STEER IN PARAGRAPH 3 OF MY TELNO.2206, BUT WOULD ADD THAT :-
(A) FOR THE REASONS ALREADY REHEARSED I DO NOT THINK IT PRACTICABLE
TO SHIFT THE CHINESE ON THE DATES FOR WU'S VISIT :
(B) IT IS FOR THE GOVERNOR TO JUDGE WHETHER A CO-INCIDENCE OF THESE
TWO EVENTS MIGHT DISTURB OPINION IN HONG KONG, BUT AS SEEN FROM HERE THERE IS NO OBVIOUS REASON WHY IT SHOULD
(C) ON THE CHINESE SIDE, I BELIEVE THAT WU'S INTENTION WOULD BE TO
TAKE WITH HIM TO THE UNITED KINGDOM A TEAM OF OFFICIALS
PRIMARILY CONCERNED WITH SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS, ALTHOUGH THE
HONG KONG EXPERTS WOULD NO DOUBT HAVE MADE THEIR INPUT TO THE
BRIEFING FOR THE VISIT IN ADVANCE :
(D)
FOR OFFICIALS, THE DATES OF THE NPC SHOULD NOT BE A COMPLICATING
FACTOR (NEITHER WU'S LIKELY TEAM NOR THE CHINESE TEAM GOING TO
HONG KONG FOR JLG IX IS LIKELY TO INCLUDE ANY PRESENT OR
PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS OF THE NPC). BUT WU HIMSELF WILL NEED TO BE
HERE FOR IT.
2. MY OWN VIEW, TAKING ALL THINGS INTO ACCOUNT, IS THAT IT MIGHT
CAUSE MORE DISRUPTION AND CONCERN HERE IF WE SHOULD TRY TO CHANGE
THE JLG DATES THAN IF WE LEFT WELL ALONG.
EVANS
YYYY
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.