TNAG-1741-FCO40-2457-Visits-by-Sir-David-Wilson--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--to-the-UK-1988 — Page 30

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MIPT: FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF PRESS RELEASE OF 16 MAY:

POSTPONEMENT OF GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO FUJIAN AND ZHEJIANG

THE GOVERNOR HAS DECIDED TO POSTPONE HIS VISIT TO FUJIAN AND ZHEJIANG. THE VISIT WAS ORIGINALLY PLANNED FOR 22-27 MAY. SINCE THOSE ARRANGEMENTS WERE MADE, A NUMBER OF DEVELOPMENTS HAVE OCCURRED WHICH REQUIRE THE GOVERNOR'S PRESENCE IN HONG KONG. THESE INCLUDE IN PARTICULAR THE VISIT BY THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY, SIR GEOFFREY HOWE, FROM 29-31 MAY, WHICH REQUIRES ADVANCE PREPARATION.

FOLLOWING DISCUSSION WITH THE CHINESE PROVINCIAL AUTHORITIES, THE GOVERNOR HAS DECIDED THAT, RATHER THAN SHORTEN THE VISIT, IT WOULD BE PREFERABLE TO POSTPONE IT TO A LATER DATE, WHEN THE FULL VISIT CAN TAKE PLACE AS ORIGINALLY PLANNED. THIS REARRANGEMENT WILL ALSO ENABLE THE GOVERNOR TO BE IN HONG KONG DURING THE VISIT OF VICE PREMIER TIAN JIYUN FROM 23-28 MAY.

2. FOLLOWING IS MATERIAL FOR HANDLING QUESTIONS:

Q.1 WHY SUCH A LATE CHANGE?

A.1 THE REASONS FOR PROPOSING A POSTPONEMENT HAVE ARISEN FAIRLY RECENTLY. WE HAVE ALSO BEEN DISCUSSING REARRANGEMENTS WITH THE PROVINCIAL AUTHORITIES.

Q.2 HOW DID THE CHINESE TAKE THE CHANGE?

A.2 THEY FULLY UNDERSTAND THE REASONS.

WE DISCUSSED THE ALTERNATIVES OF EITHER POSTPONING OR SHORTENING THE VISIT, AND CONCLUDED THAT POSTPONEMENT WOULD BE PREFERABLE. THE GOVERNOR IS PLEASED THAT HE WILL BE ABLE TO PAY A FULL VISIT TO THE TWO PROVINCES LATER.

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