TNAG-1899-FCO40-2697-Future-of-Hong-Kong-briefing-1989 — Page 160

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B

4.

The latest list of those attending the funeral is attached. We have trawled departments and suggest that we bid for the

following (in descending order of importance):

5.

a)

President Bush: short courtesy call, already requested by the Embassy in Washington.

b) Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto: although the Secretary of State plans to visit Pakistan in March, there would be value in a short introductory meeting. This is strongly supported by Lord Glenarthur.

c) The Chinese Foreign Minister, Qian Qichen: recommended by the Embassy in Peking, a chance to exchange views on recent developments in Chinese foreign policy (eg Sino-Soviet rapprochement, Cambodia, Sino-Indian relations). Useful also in the Hong Kong context (Basic Law; Vietnamese boat people). Compensation for being unable to meet the Chinese request for a bilateral in the margins of the recent CW Conference in Paris.

d) The UN Secretary-General:

a number of subjects to discuss

eg work among the Five (Namibia), and the Middle East.

e) Korean Prime Minister Kang Young-Hoon: Mr Kang was Ambassador in London in 1981-84. Useful for the Secretary of State to establish contact early in his tenure of office. An opportunity to discuss North-South Korean relations; also the burgeoning South Korean relationship with the Communist world

(diplomatic relations just established with Hungary).

f)

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Enrique Tejera Paris:

Mr Eggar met him briefly in Caracas in the margins of the Presidential inauguration on 2 February, was impressed and thought the Secretary of State would find a meeting useful. Possible subjects: debt, environment, and Latin American and Caribbean affairs generally.

The itinerary of the Secretary of State's tour during the Easter recess is still under discussion. If he in the end decides to visit India, there would be no good case for a bilateral in Tokyo with the Indian Foreign Minister or President to balance the proposed meeting with Benazir. If, however, there is no Indian leg, the case for a short meeting in Tokyo might be reconsidered.

6. Of those not on the definite list, there would be value in bilaterals with the following if they attend:

a) President Babangida of Nigeria (who, we think, is likely to attend - his advisers believe that the provision of additional Japanese aid depends on it). The main objectives

CONFIDENTIAL