CONFIDENTIAL
HKB 011/3
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
CONFIDENTIAL
FM PEKING
TO DESKBY 11090OZ F C O
TELNO 604
OF 1107OOZ APRIL 89
(256
260137274
MDHIAN 0210
YOUR TELNO 306.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE VISIT.
1.
WE HAVE SPOKEN AGAIN TO PIFA WHO HAVE TOLD US THAT THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FIRM UP THE PROGRAMME UNTIL AFTER VICE- FOREIGN MINISTER ZHOU NAN'S RETURN TO CHINA ON 12 APRIL. THERE IS NOTHING MORE TO SAY FOR THE MOMENT, THEREFORE, ON THE PROGRAMME FOR 24-25 APRIL. HOWEVER, PIFA WERE ABLE TO TELL US THE FOLLOWING:
(A) PIFA ARE MAKING ARRANGEMENTS TO MEET THE FAC AND WILL LAY ON A VIP ROOM AT THE AIRPORT. MISS BAILES (COUNSELLOR) OR HOARE (HEAD OF CHANCERY) AND RIORDAN CLIAISON OFFICER) WILL ALSO BE AT THE AIRPORT TO MEET AND SEE OFF THE DELEGATION AND WE HAVE MADE ARRANGEMENTS FOR BAGGAGE HANDLING AND CUSTOMS/ IMMIGRATION CLEARANCE ON ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE. (IT WOULD BE MOST HELPFUL IN THIS RESPECT IF THE COMMITTEE CLERK COULD HAND OVER TO RIORDAN ON ARRIVAL AT THE AIRPORT ALL THE DELEGATION'S PASSPORTS AND RETURN TICKETS (WHICH WE SHALL RECONFIRM) AND IF THE DELEGATION'S BAGGAGE COULD BE CLEARLY AND DISTINCTIVELY MARKED, E.G. WITH A LARGE 'X'
ON EACH SIDE OF EACH SUITCASE).
(B) PIFA HAVE ARRANGED THE SIGHTSEEING TRIP TO THE GREAT WALL ON 23 APRIL AND PIFA STAFF WILL ACCOMPANY THE F A C ON THIS.
(C) PIFA ARE ARRANGING A WELCOMING BANQUET FOR THE F A C ON THE EVENING OF 23 APRIL. THEY ARE ALSO CONSIDERING ARRANGING WORKING LUNCHES AND A FURTHER DINNER, POSSIBLY ON 24 APRIL. IF TIME PERMITS, THEY WILL ARRANGE SOME FORM OF CULTURAL ENTERTAINMENT, AGAIN POSSIBLY ON 24 APRIL.
2 =
FROM THE ABOVE IT IS CLEAR THAT WE SHALL NOT (NOT) HAVE AN OPENING ON 23 APRIL TO ORGANISE AN EVENT AT WHICH THE F A C COULD MEET THE CULTURAL COUNSELLOR AND A CROSS-SECTION OF BRITISH EXPATRIATES. HOWEVER, WE SHALL EXPLORE WITH THE AMBASSADOR ON HIS RETURN (12 APRIL) WAYS IN WHICH THE FAC'S WISHES COULD BE ACCOMMODATED ON 22 APRIL (E.G. A RECEPTION TO MEET EXPATRIATES AND CULTURAL STAFF FOLLOWED BY AN INFORMAL BRIEFING OVER AN
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CONFIDENTIAL
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