Private Secretary
HKB 027/3
:
CONFIDENTIAL
26
From: RJT McLaren
Date:
cc:
15 April 1988
PS/Lord Glenarthur
Mr Gillmore
Mr Hum, HKD
Mr Fell, SEAD
Mr Meyer, News Dept Mr Macleod, Protocol
Flag A
Flag B
SECRETARY OF STATE'S WHITSUN RECESS TRAVEL
1. The Secretary of State will wish to know how matters stand over his possible visit to the Philippines and Hong Kong in the window between 26 May and 1 June (your minute of 30 March and my minute of 31 March).
2. Further enquiries which we have made confirm that this visit should be feasible. In particular, President Aquino expects to be in Manila and has said that she would be happy to see the Secretary of State (Manila Telegram No 135).
Programme in Manila
3.
The call on Mrs Aquino is provisonally arranged for 10 am on Saturday 28 May. The Embassy have not yet been able to establish whether Foreign Secretary Manglapus is available (he is in China) but a call on him is not essential since the Secretary of State will meet him in Dusseldorf and we are hoping that he will come here. The Secretary of State would, however, have to call on Manglapus's Deputy in any case. There would also be time for one or two other calls on Ministers. Defence Secretary Ramos and Trade and Industry Secretary Concepcion are the obvious candidates. An alternative might be Cardinal Sin. There could then be a lunch which the Philippine Foreign Ministry might give. In the afternoon Mr MacInnes recommends a visit to the International Rice Research Institute, interesting in its own right and with a chance to see something of the Philippine countryside. We
support it to the tune of £80,000 (fram meniy
4. The Ambassador would give a dinner on the Saturday evening. On the Sunday there are Cathay Pacific flights to Hong Kong either at lunchtime or in the evening. If the Secretary of State took the former there would not be time for much except a bit of sightseeing in Manila, a meeting with UK based staff and a drink with British correspondents. A formal press conference could be fitted in some time if the Secretary of State wished. The pros and cons will need to be considered. If the Secretary of State wanted to take the later flight (which might suit Sir DWilson, who will have returned from China only the previous day), the possibility of a longer trip outside Manila
/could
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.