TNAG-1747-FCO40-2466-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1988 — Page 153

RESTRICTED

110650

MDHIAN 6238

5. THE LUNCH WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT IS THE

ONE OCCASION WHICH WILL ALLOW AREASONABLY LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE TO MEET, OR AT LEAST BE IN THE SAME ROOM AS, THE SECRETARY OF STATE. IT WOULD ALSO PROVIDE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM TO MAKE A SPEECH ABOUT HONG KONG, ITS TRANSITION TO 1997 AND HMG'S CONTINUING COMMITMENT BOTH TO THIS PROCESS AND TO THE TERRITORY ITSELF. THE INTENTION OF THE OTHER LUNCH WAS TO ALLOW THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO MEET THE SORT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE PERHAPS MOST CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUTURE, OR ATLEAST WHO ARE BEST PLACED TO EXPRESS THAT CONCERN THROUGH EMIGRATION. I TAKE YOUR POINT THAT IT MIGHT BE BETTER NOT TO MIX THE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS. ALTHOUGH BOTH ARE IMPORTANT GROUPS IT IS PERHAPS PRESENTATIONALLY BETTER FOR

THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO MEET THE FORMER IF A CHOICE MUST BE MADE

BUT I SEE NO REAL PROBLEM IN ADDING A SPRINKLING OF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS

6. I HAVE SO FAR NOT HAD MUCH TIME TO THINK OF ANY ALTERNATIVE IDEAS

FOR THE PROGRAMME. IF THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAD A PARTICULAR

INTEREST IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR I WOULD SUGGEST A VISIT TO THE HONG

KONG POLYTECHNIC. ANY ADEAS THAT YOU HAVE WOULD BE WELCOMED.

O

7 I NOTE THAT LADY HOWE WILL BE ACCOMPANYING THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

GRATEFUL TO KNOW WHAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO DO DURING THE VISIT SO THAT

WE CAN START TO DRAFT A PROGRAMME FOR HER TOOM

8. GRATEFUL ALSO TO KNOW WHEN YOU INTEND TO ANNOUNCE THE VISIT. SEEN FROM HERE, THERE WOULD BE MERIT IN DOING THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

WILSON

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

45

LIMITED

HKD

SEAD

PROTOCOL D

PS

NNNN

DISTRIBUTION

45

PS/MRS CHALKER

PS/LD GLENARTHUR

PS/PUS

MR GILLMORE

MR MCLAREN

PAGE

2

RESTRICTED