Separate copies:
Mr Cooper, FED
Mr Hum, HKD
CONFIDENTIAL
FROM: PS/Lord Glenarthur DATE: 17 February 1988
CC: PS/PUS
Mr Gillmore Mr McLaren News Dept Protocol Dept
LORD GLENARTHUR'S TRAVEL: HONG KONG, CHINA, MONGOLIA
The Secretary of State has agreed that Lord Glenarthur should visit Hong Kong and China in June. The dates we have been able to set aside between the various stages of legislation that Lord Glenarthur is due to introduce in the House of Lords are 20 - 29 June. The aim would be to visit Hong Kong first, perhaps travelling out to arrive on the evening of Sunday, 19 June; and to go on to China thereafter perhaps on Wednesday, 22 June.
2.
-
We had proposed the original dates to include a visit to Mongolia. The Secretary of State apparently finds it very difficult to justify a ministerial visit to Mongolia. He thinks that our links with Mongolia are too thin, and the journey there too time- consuming, to justify a visit. But the Private Secretary has invited us to resubmit if Lord Glenarthur or the department feel very strongly that Mongolia deserves a visit.
3.
Lord Glenarthur is undeterred by the logistical problems; and the department have made some preliminary investigations into travel to and from Ulan Bator by air. It would be helpful if you could set out the arguments in favour of a visit, so that Lord Glenarthur can make a final decision on resubmitting to the Secretary of State. I would also be grateful for advice on the length of visit to China that you would recommend if Mongolia falls away. Lord Glenarthur will be keen to get outside Peking.
We are looking at airline schedules for the various alternatives.
4.
David was
David Reddaway PS/Lord Glenarthur
17 February 1988
CONFIDENTIAL
TIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.