TNAG-2043-FCO40-2911-Visits-by-Francis-Maude--Minister-of-State-for-Foreign-and-C-1990 — Page 64

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELNO 699

OF 301745Z MARCH 90

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RECEIVED je

- 9 APR 1990

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143044

MDHOAN 6275

PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM PAUL, HKD

VISIT OF MR MAUDE TO HONG KONG: MEETING WITH SENIOR OFFICIALS

1. WE SHALL BE TELEGRAPHING SHORTLY ABOUT THE PROGRAMME FOR THE VISIT BUT THERE IS ONE POINT WHICH MR MAUDE HAS ASKED ME TO CONSULT YOU ABOUT. THIS CONCERNS THE MEETING WITH SENIOR OFFICIALS, SCHEDULED FOR THE MORNING OF MONDAY 9 APRIL

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THIS HAS LONG BEEN A WELL ESTABLISHED AND MUCH APPRECIATED ELEMENT IN THE PROGRAMME, PARTICULARLY IN THE CASE OF RECENTLY APPOINTED MINISTERS NOT FAMILIAR WITH HONG KONG ISSUES. MR MAUDE IS OF COURSE FULLY CONVERSANT WITH THE MAIN ISSUES, AND HAS ASKED ME TO LET YOU KNOW THAT, AS FAR AS HE IS CONCERNED, HE WOULD BE PERFECTLY HAPPY TO DISPENSE WITH THIS ELEMENT OF THE PROGRAMME. ON THE OTHER HAND, IF YOU SAW VALUE IN RETAINING SUCH A MEETING, FOR EXAMPLE AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR SENIOR OFFICIALS TO SPEAK TO MR MAUDE ABOUT THEIR PARTICULAR AREAS OF CONCERN, HE WOULD I THINK BE EQUALLY HAPPY TO GO ALONG WITH THAT.

3. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS.

HURD

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