TNAG-1747-FCO40-2466-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1988 — Page 143

CONFIDENTIAL

FM BTC HONG KONG

TO ROUTINE FCO

TELNO 0104

OF 19090OZ APRIL 88

Go

CONFIDENTIAL

114615

MDLIAN 1296

HIB 027/3

FOR MCLAREN

VISIT OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO HONG KONG

·

1 I HAVE SEEN YOUR TELNO 111 TO MANILA COPIED TO THE GOVERNOR. I REALISE THIS WILL BE A BUSY POLITICAL VISIT TO HONG KONG BUT I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO TELL THE SECRETARY OF STATE ABOUT UK TRADE AND I KNOW MR TOMKYS HOPES THAT AT SOME TIME THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THE COMPUTER SYSTEMS IN THE TRADE COMMISSION.

2. UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE A DTI DUTY TOUR PLANNED IN BRITAIN FOR THE SECOND HALF OF MAY. IT INCLUDES SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS THAT MIGHT BE DIFFICULT TO RE-ARRANGE. IF YOU THOUGHT IT NECESSARY I COULD BREAK OF FROM THE TOUR FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AND COME BACK TO HONG KONG FOR THE HOLIDAY MONDAY (MAY 30) WHEN THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL BE HERE AND THEN RETURN TO LONDON. GRATEFUL YOUR ADVICE.

ΙΝ

3. ALERNATIVELY I WOULD BE VERY PLEASED TO OFFER A BRIEFING LONDON AND ON PRESENT PLANS COULD MAKE MYSELF AVAILABLE THERE FROM

18 MAY.

4

I AM PLANNING TO TAKE A COUPLE OF WEEKS LEAVE IN NORTH AMERICA

IN AFTER MY DUTY TOUR BUT WILL BE CUTTING THIS SHORT TO BE BACK TIME FOR THE SUBSEQUENT VISIT BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY IN MID-JUNE.

HOLLOWAY

YYYY