TNAG-1751-FCO40-2471-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-debates-1988 — Page 154

CONFIDENTIAL

153011

MDHOAN 6746

(357

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE PEKING

TELNO 45

OF 15-163OZ JANUARY 88

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

FROM FED

HUB 040/2.

2 0 JAN 1988

p.a G-K- Debate

CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER'S VISIT TO UK: REFERENCE IN HONG KONG DEBATE.

1. THERE WILL BE A DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS ON HONG KONG BEGINNING 20 JANUARY. THE SECRETARY OF STATE WOULD LIKE TO REFER TO THE FORTHCOMING VISIT BY WU. WHEN WE DISCUSSED CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THE VISIT WITH THE CHINESE EMBASSY ON 14 JANUARY (WE

WE SAID EXPECT TO SEND YOU A SLIGHTLY REVISED PROGRAMME SHORTLY) · THAT, AS IS NORMAL, WE WOULD AIM TO MAKE AN OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT 10 DAYS BEFORE THE VISIT (PERHAPS EARLIER IF MEDIA INTEREST HAD BUILT UP AS A RESULT OF WU'S PLANS TO VISIT THE US).

2.

GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD NEVERTHELESS NOW SEEK CHINESE AGREEMENT TO A REFERENCE IN THE DEBATE NEXT WEEK AS FOLLOWS:

'I LOOK FORWARD TO PURSUING THOSE EXCHANGES OP EN SQUARE BRACKETS ON HONG KONG CLOSE SQUARE BRACKETS WELCOME THE CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER ON AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO BRITAIN IN THE SPRING.' THE CHINESE EMBASSY HAVE SHOWN A DESIRE TO LINK THE VISIT WITH

IF THE MFA THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO CHINA IN 1984. RAISED THIS POINT IN RESPONDING TO YOU WE SHOULD BE DISPOSED TO RECOMMEND THE ADDITION OF A SENTENCE ON THE LINES OF 'MR WU'S VISIT IS IN RETURN FOR THE VISIT I MADE TO CHINA IN 1984.'

3.

GRATEFUL FOR CHINESE REACTIONS DESKBY 18020OZ IF POSSIBLE, AND 19020OZ AT THE LATEST. WE ARE MENTIONING THE SUBJECT TO THE EMBASSY HERE. WE STILL PROPOSE, AS AGREED, TO GO THROUGH THE CHINESE EMBASSY FOR DISCUSSION OF OTHER ASPECTS OF THE PROGRAMME.

HOWE

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