TNAG-1892-FCO40-2685-Visits-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe-and-by-Douglas-Hurd--Secretaries-1989 — Page 39

CONFIDENTIAL

041773 MDHOAN 8497

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELNO 2379

OF 271705Z NOVEMBER 89

AND TO IMMEDIATE BTC HONG KONG

INFO PRIORITY UKREP JLG HONG KONG

PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM PAUL,

HKD

THE HONG KONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

1. MR HELMUT SOHMEN OF THE HONG KONG GENERAL

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS WRITTEN TO THE

SECRETARY OF STATE TO ASK IF IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR HIM TO SPEAK AT A LUNCHEON ORGANISED BY THE CHAMBER DURING HIS FORTHCOMING VISIT TO HONG KONG. THEY HAVE SUGGESTED THE THEME QUOTE BRITAIN'S ROLE IN IMPLEMENTING THE PROVISION OF THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION UNQUOTE. BUT THEY HAVE EMPHASISED THAT THEY WOULD NOT OBJECT SHOULD THE SECRETARY OF STATE PREFER TO ADDRESS ON AN ALTERNATIVE SUBJECT.

2. THE INVITATION WOULD PROVIDE THE SECRETARY OF STATE WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO DELIVER WHAT WOULD HOPEFULLY BE A POWERFUL AND REASSURING MESSAGE TO HONG KONG ABOUT BRITAIN'S INTENTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY. WE THEREFORE SEE SOME MERIT IN THE IDEA. ON THE OTHER HAND, WE WOULD NOT WANT THIS TO CONFLICT WITH ANY OTHER PLANS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE. 3. I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR ADVICE AND THAT OF PETER HEAP

ON HOW WE SHOULD REPLY TO SOHMEN.

HURD

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

15

LIMITED

HKD

NNNN

DISTRIBUTION

15

MR MCLAREN

PAGE

1

CONFIDENTIAL