TNAG-2031-FCO40-2894-Visit-by-Douglas-Hurd--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Co-1990 — Page 39

177

COMMENT:

CONFIDENTIAL

FM BTC HONG KONG

TO DESKAY OHIT007 200

TELNO S

OF 0910OZ SAMUARY 90

PERSONAL FOR PAUL PXD. EROM KEAD

HONG KONG TALMA 95 TO 200:

SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT

1. THE HKG HAVE TOLD ME THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL VISIT THIS OFFICE FROM 6PM UNTIL 7.50 PM ON TUESDAY 16 JANUARY. THIS IS RECORDED AT SERIAL 21 IN TUR. ALSO THAT HE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED FOR

HE VISIT BY MRS H

2. I WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR EARLY FURTHER GUIDANCE ON HOW THE SECKSTARY OF STATE WOULD LIKE TO USE THIS TIME.

3. FROM YOUR TELNO 47 TO HONG KONG I HAD ASSUMED THIS WAS TO BE A WORKING VISIT DURING OPERATIONAL HOURS. NOW IT IS SET FOR 6PM. AND VERY MUCH AS A LAST CALL REFORE THE FINAL SUPPER AND DEPARTURE. THIS WILL BE DIFFICULT.

4. ALTERNATIVES SEEM TO BE:

(A) A WORKING VISIT TO THE OFFICE. FOR DISCUSSION WITH MYSELF AND WITH SENIOR STAFF. A TOUR OF THE OFFICE TO S: IT AT WORK. AND PERHAPS A F-W INFORMAL WORDS TO ALL STAFE FOLLOWED BY A ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION WITH. SAY. ABOUT 12 BRITISH BUSINESSMEN,

*

ADVANTAGES, IT WOULD MEET THE OBJECTIVES IN YOUR TELNO 47.

DISADVANTAGES. IT WOULD BE ARTIFICIAL GIVEN THAT IT WOULD BE OUTSIDE NORMAL WOYKING HOURS. THAT WOULD PRESENT NO PROBLEMS WITH HOME BASED S AFF. BUT WOLLO REQUIRE A BIT OF SELLING TO LOCALLY SVBAGED STUC IT WOULD BE A HEAVY SESSION FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND MRS HURD AT THE END OF A LONG DAY in

(B) A GATHERING IN THE OFFICE OF HOME BASED STAFF AND WIVES. AND ANY LOCALLY ENGAGED STAFF WHO WISHED TO STAY. PLUS PERHAPS OTHER FCO STAF IN HONG KONG (COMMUNICATIONS. LANGUAGE STUDENTS ETC) (IE EXCLUDING JUS WHO WILL BE VISITED SEPARATELY). EITHER FOR A GENERAL BUT DARTIALLY STRUCTURED DISCUSSION. OP FOR FREE RANGING CIRCULATION OVER A DRINK.

OR FOR THE LATTER COMBINED WITH A FEW WORDS FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE. IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO MIX BUSINESSMEN INTO THIS FORMAT.

ADVANTAGES. THE SECRETARY OF STATE WOULD MEET FCD STAFF WHILE LOCALLY ENGAGED STAFF WOULD NOT BE OBLIGED TO STAY. ALL OF WHICH WOULD BE GOOD FOR MORALE.

DISADVANTAGES. IT WOULD GIVE LIMITED OR NO CHANCE FOR SERIOUS DISCUSSIONS. WOULD NOT ENABLE THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO SEE THE