9/HUB 026/11
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM OTTAWA
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELNO 001
HKB 026/11
RECEIVED
1
22 FEB 1990
DESK OFFICER INDEX
/PA
Action Taxen
OF 20220OZ FEBRUARY 90
AND TO PRIORITY WASHINGTON
INFO ROUTINE FCO
14
164162
MDLIAN 0210
HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR
YOUR VISIT TO CANADA
1.
HOULDEN (DEPUTY DIRECTOR, NORTH ASIA RELATIONS DIVISION, DEA) HAS TOLD US THAT HE HAS HEARD INFORMALLY THAT YOU ARE NOW CONSIDERING
VISITING CANADA FROM 22-24 MAY RATHER THAN 15-18 MAY. HOULDEN SAID
THAT THE REVISED DATES WOULD PROBABLY BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT. HOWEVER, THE DEA WOULD WELCOME EARLY CONFIRMATION OF YOUR PLANS IN ORDER TO SECURE THE DESIRED INVOLVEMENT OF THE GOVERNOR GENERAL, THE PRIME MINISTER AND OTHER SENIOR MINISTERS.
2.
FOR MY PART I HAD PLANNED TO PAY INTRODUCTORY CALLS IN WESTERN
CANADA FROM 21-31 MAY AND HAVE SOME APPOINTMENTS ALREADY FIXED. IF YOU WERE PLUMP FOR 22-24 MAY, I WOULD TRY TO UNSCRAMBLE THINGS, BUT I HOPE THAT YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO GIVE US A CLEAR STEER ONE WAY OR THE
OTHER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. IF YOU WERE ABLE TO STICK TO THE EARLIER
TIMING THAT WOULD BE MUCH THE BEST FROM MY POINT OF VIEW.
IT
3. HOULDEN TOLD US THAT HE HAD SENT A TELEGRAM TO THE CANADIAN COMMISSIONER IN HONG KONG TO SEEK CLARIFICATION OF YOUR VISIT DATES, AND APPARENTLY ALSO EXPRESSING SURPRISE THAT THE DEA HAD BEEN APPROACHED BY ARTHUR RATHER THAN THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT CHANNEL. WOULD BE HELPFUL (MY TELNO 049 TO FCO) IF WE COULD HENCEFORTH BE THE CHANNEL FOR COMMUNICATION WITH THE DEA OVER ARRANGEMENTS FOR YOUR VISIT.
4 HOULDEN EXPLAINED THAT YOUR VISIT WOULD BE GRANTED THE STATUS USUALLY GIVEN TO FOREIGN MINISTERS, AND IT WOULD ASSIST THE DEA IN GIVING THE PROPER SHAPE TO YOUR PROGRAMME AND IN SATISFYING BRIEFING REQUIREMENTS IF THEY COULD BE PROVIDED WITH A STATEMENT OF YOUR OBJECTIVES (EXCLAM). WE NEED NOT TAKE THAT PIECE OF BUREAUCRATIC ZEAL TOO SERIOUSLY, BUT HOULDEN WOULD ALSO WELCOME ADVICE ON WHETHER YOU WOULD LIKE HIS DEPARTMENT TO ARRANGE ANY MEETINGS ADDITIONAL TO THOSE ALREADY ENVISAGED WITH THE GOVERNOR GENERAL AND MINISTERS. APART FROM MULRONEY AND JOE CLARK (EXTERNAL AFFAIRS) ARE THERE ANY
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PAGE CONFIDENTIAL
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