TNAG-2033-FCO40-2896-Visit-by-Douglas-Hurd--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Co-1990 — Page 20

CONFIDENTIAL

НИВ 026/3

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

12 NOV 1990

(130)

020144 MDLIAN 2950

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 3169

OF 31104OZ OCTOBER 90

DESK OFFICER

R

&usia &

INDEX

PA

INFO PRIORITY BTC HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG, PEKING

PERSONAL FOR PAUL, HKD FROM GOVERNOR

BTC HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR HEAP

UKREP JLG HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR GALSWORTHY

PEKING PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR

YRTELNO 2006

128

VISIT OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO CHINA AND HONG KONG

1. THE SECRETARY OF STATE WOULD BE MOST WELCOME IN HONG KONG SOME TIME DURING THE PERIOD 1-9 APRIL.

2. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FACTORS THAT YOU WILL WISH TO BEAR IN MIND WHEN DECIDING EXACTLY WHEN THE SECRETARY OF STATE SHOULD VISIT HONG KONG. BOTH 1 APRIL (EASTER MONDAY) AND 5 APRIL (CHING MING) ARE HOLIDAYS HERE. AS YOU KNOW, CHING MING IS A VERY POPULAR FESTIVAL. IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO ARRANGE A SENSIBLE PROGRAMME WHICH INCLUDED THAT DAY. WE DO NOT NORMALLY HAVE AN EXCO MEETING ON THE TUESDAY AFTER EASTER, BUT WOULD HOLD A SPECIAL MEETING IF THE SECRETARY OF STATE WERE HERE THEN. WITH TWO HOLIDAYS THAT WEEK, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY, EVEN IN HONG KONG, THAT SOME LEADING PLAYERS IN THE COMMUNITY WILL BE OUT OF TOWN. BUT THERE WILL ALWAYS BE ENOUGH KEY PEOPLE HERE TO MAKE A VISIT WORTHWHILE.

3. THERE SEEM TO BE TWO OPTIONS:

(A) THE SECRETARY OF STATE ARRIVES IN HONG KONG ON 1 APRIL FOR A TWO DAY PROGRAMME ON 2-3 APRIL BEFORE LEAVING FOR PEKING ON THE MORNING OF 4 APRIL, OR

(B) THE SECRETARY OF STATE ARRIVES IN HONG KONG ON 7 APRIL FOR A 2 DAY PROGRAMME ON 8-9 APRIL, LEAVING FOR LONDON LATE ON 9 APRIL.

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