TNAG-1747-FCO40-2466-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1988 — Page 82

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Mr Hum

Hyn,

HKD

Nati

62

Visit to Hong Kong by the Secretary of State

The Secretary of State was grateful for your submission of 25 April. He is broadly content with the programme, except that he has questioned the need for a speech at the lunch on the first day. His view is that he will have to make a substantial statement at the press conference the following day, and does not really want to make it twice.

On the time of departure, the Secretary of State has decided with regret that he cannot take the later plane, since its time of ar rival at Gatwick would ensure that he hit the maximum rush-hour traffic and would make him very late into the office. We will have to maintain his plan to leave on the earlier flight. I should emphasise that this is not because of any reluctance to travel by Cathay Pacific.

I do not think there will be any problem with a relatively early announcement. Perhaps you could discuss with News Dept.

I am consulting Lady Howe separately about the programme and will let you have a further reply on this point.

разалый

27 April 1988

CC:

PS/Lord Glenarthur Mr Gillmore

Mr McLaren

Mr Meyer, News Dept Protocol Dept

(A C Galsworthy)

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