TNAG-1893-FCO40-2687-Visit-by-Francis-Maude--Minister-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Co-1989 — Page 104

081020Z

COMMENT

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO DESKBY 060030Z HONG KONG

TELNO 1805

OF 051825Z SEPT 89

PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM MCLAREN, AUSS

MR MAUDE'S VISIT TO HONG KONG

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HKB 026/23

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THERE IS STILL SOME DIFFICULTY OVER DATES FOR MR MAUDE'S VISIT. AS YOU KNOW, WE ADVISED AGAINST 24-26 SEPTEMBER BECAUSE THESE DATES FALL JUST BEFORE THE JLG. MR MAUDE WAS PREPARED TO BE IN HONG KONG FROM 8-11 OCTOBER, AS DISCUSSED WITH YOU, BUT THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS NOT HAPPY WITH THIS PERIOD, PARTLY BECAUSE IT FALLS WITHIN THE PARTY CONFERENCE SEASON.

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THE ONLY (ONLY) ALTERNATIVE WHICH WOULD FIT IN WITH MR MAUDE'S OTHER COMMITMENTS WOULD BE TO FLY TO HONG KONG ON TUESDAY, 19 SEPTEMBER, ARRIVING WEDNESDAY, 20 SEPTEMBER, AND REMAINING UNTIL THE EVENING OF FRIDAY, 22 SEPTEMBER, OR OF SATURDAY, 23 SEPTEMBER. WE HAVE NOT YET ESTABLISHED WHETHER SEATS WOULD BE AVAILABLE ON SUITABLE FLIGHTS.

I AM AWARE THAT A VISIT IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE WEEK IS NOT IDEAL, EG FOR MEETINGS WITH EXCO AND OMELCO. BUT BOTH THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND MR MAUDE ATTACH GREAT IMPORTANCE TO HIS VISITING HONG KONG IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL TO KNOW, IF POSSIBLE FIRST THING ON 6 SEPTEMBER, WHETHER YOU COULD MANAGE A VISIT AT THE TIME MR MAUDE NOW HAS IN MIND. IF IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT, YOU WILL NO DOUBT SAY SO, BUT I SHALL NEED PRETTY STRONG ARGUMENTS.

MAJOR

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MAIN

NO DISTRIBUTION

HD/HKD

PS/MR MAUDE

MR MCLAREN

CRICHMOND]

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