TNAG-1893-FCO40-2687-Visit-by-Francis-Maude--Minister-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Co-1989 — Page 65

"

CONFIDENTIAL

willingness to share his thoughts with them.

22. At the meeting with Civil Service Union leaders (Brief No 9)

they are likely to raise concerns about nationality and the security

of their conditions of service and pensions after 1997. The meeting

will provide a useful opportunity for Mr Maude to boost Civil

Service morale, which is currently at a low ebb and which is of much

concern to the Governor.

23.

Briefing on the participants at the community lunch and at the visit to Coates Printing will be provided by the Hong Kong Government after Mr Maude's arrival. This will be an opportunity

for Mr Maude to say something to the press about British commercial

interests in Hong Kong: we have asked the British Trade Commission

to prepare some notes.

The

24.

The culmination to the visit will be the press conference on

the afternoon of 19 September. In terms of public impact, it is crucial. A press brief is attached (Brief No 10) which takes

account of the preliminary advice of the Hong Kong Government. brief will inevitably require refinement and updating in the course of the visit: the pre press conference discussion at Government House will provide an opportunity for this.

BEN ABM6

CONFIDENTIAL