Mr Millington FED
CONFIDENTIAL
From:
RJT McLaren
Date:
HKB 011/3
Cc:
15 February 1989
PS
PS/Lord Glenarthur
Mr Gillmore
Mr Paul, HKD
Mr Holt, PRU
78
FAC INQUIRY INTO HONG KONG
VISIT TO PEKING
1. Mrs Zhang Youyun took me aside at the Chinese Ambassador's Reception on 14 February to talk about the FAC's visit to Peking. She was aware of the dates in mind and did not seem to think they would cause difficulties, though she lamented the fact that the Committee were proposing to spend such a short time in China.
2.
Mrs Zhang confirmed that PIFA (which she referred to throughout as the People's Institute for International Relations) would be the Committee's hosts. Some eyebrows had apparently been raised at this (I am not sure whose), on the ground that the Foreign Affairs Office of the National People's Congress might be more appropriate. But the Embassy were quite clear that PIFA was right: they had the necessary experience and prestige and would be able to get the appropriate appointments. As regards appoint- ments, Mrs Zhang thought that the Committee would be received at senior (probably Vice-Minister) level by the Foreign Ministry, the Hong Kong and Macao Office of the State Council, and the National People's Congress.
3.
Mrs Zhang emphasised that the Embassy were fully seized of the Committee's importance and of the need for their visit to Peking to go well. She was recommending to the Ambassador that he should offer to brief them before they went off on their travels and give them a meal when they returned.
4. You may want to pass the substance of the above to the Embassy in Peking, with reference to Peking Telno 186. But it would be as well for you or HKD to check first with the Assistant Clerk to the Committee on the FAC's own contacts with the Chinese Embassy. It sounds as though they have been discussing programme details direct.
CONFIDENTIAL
RJT McLaren
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