TNAG-1847-FCO40-2622-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 151

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE PEKING

TELNO 321

OF 13180OZ APRIL 89

(260)

CONFIDENTIAL

HKB 011/3

6282

151135

MDHOAN 9134

TOP COPY Q DIST ?

YOUR TELNO 604 : FAC VISIT

1.

WE NOTE FROM PARA 1(A) OF TUR THAT YOU ARE PROPOSING THAT THE COMMITTEE SHOULD BE MET AT THE AIRPORT BY THE COUNSELLOR OR HEAD OF CHANCERY. THE COMMITTEE CLERK HAS POINTED OUT TO US INFORMALLY THAT THE FAC USUALLY EXPECTS TO BE MET ON ARRIVAL BY THE AMBASSADOR, ALTHOUGH THIS IS NOT THE CASE WITH OTHER SELECT COMMITTEES. THE CLERK HASTENED TO ADD THAT THE COMMITTEE WOULD NATURALLY UNDERSTAND IF THE AMBASSADOR COULD NOT DO SO BECAUSE HE HAD ANOTHER IMPORTANT ENGAGEMENT.

2.

WE SIMPLY DRAW THIS POINT TO YOUR ATTENTION SO THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF WHAT IS THE NORMAL PRACTICE.

HOWE

YYYY

DISTRIBUTION

22

MAIN

22

LIMITED

HKD

FED

PRU

NNNN

MR GILLMORE

MR MCLAREN

PAGE 1 CONFIDENTIAL