TNAG-1837-FCO40-2612-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 31

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465

MDLIAN 1963

2.

MPS AND SIMILAR VISITORS TO CHINA ARE NORMALLY HOSTED EITHER BY THE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS (NPC) OR A SUB-COMMITTEE THEREOF, OR BY ORGANISATIONS SUCH AS THE CHINESE PEOPLE'S INSTITUTE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS OR THE CHINESE PEOPLE'S ASSOCIATION FOR FRIENDSHIP WITH FOREIGN COUNTRIES. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW IF THE FAC HAVE ANY PLANS, OR HAVE HAD ANY CONTACT ALREADY WITH THE CHINESE, IN THIS CONNECTION. WE WOULD NEED TO LIAISE WITH THE CHINESE HOSTS IN DUE COURSE OVER DETAILED ARRANGEMENTS

FOR THE VISIT.

3. ON TIMING, WHILE WE COULD HANDLE A VISIT IN APRIL THIS PERIOD IS SHAPING UP AS A PARTICULARLY BUSY ONE WITH A CONSTANT FLOW OF SENIOR VISITORS (INCLUDING LORD YOUNG 7-14 APRIL, MR. MORRISON 16-21 APRIL, MR. PATTEN 4-6 MAY, AND MR. MACGREGOR PROPOSED FOR 10-18 MAY). IF THE COMMITTEE HAVE ANY FLEXIBILITY OVER DATES, THE SECOND WEEK OF MAY OR THEREAFTER WOULD BE BETTER FROM OUR

OWN POINT OF VIEW.

4.

WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR GUIDANCE ON THE ROLE THE EMBASSY IS EXPECTED TO PLAY DURING THE VISIT (E.G. WILL WE BE EXPECTED TO GIVE FORMAL EVIDENCE ?). IT WOULD ALSO BE USEFUL IF, AT AN EARLY STAGE, WE COULD BE ADVISED ON WHICH PERSONALITIES, ORGANISATIONS, MINISTRIES, ETC THE COMMITTEE PLAN TO VISIT HERE.

DONALD

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