TNAG-1634-FCO40-2250-Visits-by-Chinese-officials-to-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 53

GRS 250

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 1909

OF 19014OZ MAY 87

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

CONFIDENTIAL

COPY ST?

13

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TRANSIT OF HONG KONG BY CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER

1. WE HAVE LEARNED FROM IMMIGRATION TELEGRAMS AND SUBSEQUENTLY FROM NCNA THAT WU XUEQHAN WILL TRANSHT HONG KONG ON SATURDAY, 20 JUNE, ON HIS RETURN FROM CANADA. HE PLANS TO ARRIVE AT 1715 FROM VANCOUVER AND GO STRAIGHT BY CAR TO SHENZHEN.

2. WE WILL ARRANGE FOR WU TO BE MET ON ARRIVAL (PROBABLY BY THE POLITICAL ADVISER) IN ADDITION MY INCLINATION IS TO OFFER HIM SOM HOSPITALITY AND, HE ACCEPTS (WHICH HE MAY NOT), TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A SHORT DISCUSSION, PERHAPS AT FANLING LODGE," (WHICH WOULD BE ON HIS WAY TO THE BORDER). THE GREEN PAPER WILL BY THEN HAVE BEEN OUT FOR THREE WEEKS AND HT MIGHT BE USEFUL FOR ME TO GIVE HIM SOME EARLY IMPRESSIONS OF REACTRONS IN HONG KONG. DEPENDING ON THE PROGRESS OF OUR THINKING, MIGHT ALSO PUT DOWN A MARKER THAT WE PROPOSE TO FOLLOW UP HIS RECENT MEETINGS WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE BY HANDING OVER TO THE CHINESE FURTHER PAPERS CONTAINING OUR THOUGHTS ON CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE LONGER-TERM. WU MAY WELL RETHERATE HIS PITCH FOR AN UNDERSTANDING ON NO DHRECT ELECTIONS: IF SO WOULD STACK FORMLY TO THE LINE TAKEN BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

3. GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOUR REACTIONS (AND THOS OF HMA PEKING) TO THIS IDEA. WE SHALL NEED TO MOVE FAIRLY SOON F WE ARE TO SUGGEST TO THE CHINESE A VARIATION IN WU'S PROGRAMME.

WILSON

HMLNAN 3034

LIMITED

HKD

FED

MR GILLMORE MR MCLAREN

CONFIDENTIAL

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