CONFIDENTIAL
89
062755
MDHIAN 1510
HKB 026/20
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 30120OZ FCO
TELNO 2167
OF 30103OZ JUNE 89
INFO IMMEDIATE BTC HONG KONG
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
PERSONAL FOR PAUL, HKD FROM GOVERNOR
YOUR TELNO 1393: SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT: PROGRAMME
.
1 I SHALL TAKE YOUR SUGGESTIONS FOR PROGRAMME REVISIONS ONE
BY ONE
A) MORE MILITARY AT THE AIRPORT. OUR JUDGEMENT HERE IS THAT TO INCREASE THE MILITARY PROFILE MORE THAN A LIMITED EXTENT WOULD
CREATE VERY MUCH THE WRONG IMPRESSION ON ARRIVAL. WE PROPOSE TO
ADD CBF TO THE WELCOMING PARTY. TO ADD CRAF AND CAPIC WOULD MEAN THAT MILITARY AND CIVILIAN PERSONNEL ARE IN EQUAL NUMBERS IN
RECEIVING THE SECRETARY OF STATE. THIS WOULD BE MOST UNUSUAL AND
LOOK VERY ODD. A GUARD OF HONOUR WOULD ALSO BE MOST UNUSUAL AND WOULD, IN THE PRESENT MOOD OF THE COMMUNITY, STRIKE THE WRONG NOTE. WE ACCEPT THAT THERE IS A GOOD CASE FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE
BEING SEEN TO DO SOMETHING WITH THE FORCES DURING HIS STAY. A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS WILL BE DURING HIS VISIT TO THE SEK KONG CAMP
BEING USED FOR TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION FOR VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE BRITISH TROOPS SETTING UP
NEW TENTS FOR WHICH HMG HAS AGREED TO PAY. THIS WILL BE AN
EXCELLENT DEMONSTRATION OF HMG'S COMMITMENT TO HELPING WITH THE
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE PROBLEM: IT WILL ALSO SHOW THE BRITISH
PRESENCE HERE.
B) DEMONSTRATORS. I AM TELEGRAPHING SEPARATELY ON DEMONSTRATIONS
DURING THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT. WHILE I UNDERSTAND THE
SECRETARY OF STATE'S WISH TO BE SEEN AS WILLING TO TALK TO DEMONSTRATORS, AND IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO ARRANGE THIS, I ADVISE AGAINST. THE PROBLEM IS THAT, IF HE SEES ONE GROUP, THE NOSES OF ALL THE REST WILL BE OUT OF JOINT UNLESS THEY GET EQUAL TREATMENT. WE ALREADY HAVE LONG STANDING AND WELL UNDERSTOOD ARRANGEMENTS FOR
ACCEPTING PETITIONS AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE AND I ADVISE THAT WE FOLLOW
THEM DURING THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT. MY SEPARATE TELEGRAM RECOMMENDS THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S PRIVATE SECRETARY ACCEPTS
THE PETITION TO BE PRESENTED AT THE AIRPORT.
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CONFIDENTIAL
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