TNAG-2047-FCO40-2917-Visits-by-staff-of-the-Department-of-Trade-and-Industry-to-H-1990 — Page 152

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FM BTC HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE DTI TELNO OTTER 177

OF 15070OZ AUGUST 90

INFO ROUTINE FCO

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pa DTI visits.

gr

16/8

HA 3026 32

Ser 690

B32

16

G64205

MDHIAN 0235

FOR LOVE, OT2/2 FROM HEAP

YOUR OTTER 190 : PROPOSED VISIT BY MINISTER FOR TRADE

1. WE HAVE NO DIFFICULTY WITH A VISIT BY THE MINISTER FOR TRADE BEGINNING ON TUESDAY 25 SEPTEMBER. CLEARLY A WEEKDAY ARRIVAL WOULD NOT GIVE QUITE THE SAME CHANCE TO SHAKE OFF THE EFFECTS OF THE JOURNEY AS THE EARLIER PROPOSAL TO ARRIVE AT THE WEEKEND. THE EVEN CLOSER PROXIMITY TO THE VISIT OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOTB WILL ALSO BE A MINOR DIFFICULTY BUT THERE IS NO REASON WHY THERE SHOULD BE MORE THAN A LIMITED OVERLAP WITH THEIR PROGRAMMES. SINCE SIR JAMES CLEMINSON WILL NOW SPEND ONE OF HIS TWO WORKING DAYS HERE IN CHINA (YOUR TELNO OTTER 186) THE OVERLAP WILL BE FURTHER REDUCED. THE NEW PROPOSED DATES WILL ALSO OF COURSE BE DURING OUR INSPECTION, BUT AGAIN THE PROPOSED CHANGES MAKES NO DIFFERENCE ON THAT SCORE.

2. I HAVE CONFIRMED WITH GOVERNMENT HOUSE THAT THEY TOO ARE CONTENT WITH THE NEW ARRIVAL DATE. I HAD PROVISIONALLY AGREED WITH THE GOVERNOR'S STAFF THAT THE GOVERNOR MIGHT GIVE A LUNCH FOR MR SAINSBURY ON MONDAY 24 SEPTEMBER AND A MEETING ON THE MORNING OF 26 SEPTEMBER. WE HAVE NOW PENCILLED IN A LUNCH BY THE GOVERNOR ON 27 SEPTEMBER, AND WILL SEEK TO ARRANGE A CALL ON THE FINAL DAY OF THE VISIT WHEN WE KNOW WHEN THAT IS.

3. TO ENSURE THE BEST POSSIBLE PROGRAMME IT IS IMPORTANT THAT A DECISION ON THE VISIT IS TAKEN QUICKLY. AS INDICATED IN MY TELNO OTTER 172 THERE ARE A GREAT MANY VISITORS DURING SEPTEMBER AND DIARIES ARE ALREADY GETTING VERY FULL. IF THE MINISTER IS TO BE ACCOMPANIED BY BUSINESSMEN THEN THAT TOO OF COURSE WILL MAKE FOR FURTHER COMPLICATIONS AND INCREASES THE NEED FOR AN EARLY DECISION. CON BALANCE I STILL THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA FOR HIM TO BE ACCOMPANIED BY VERY SENIOR PEOPLE FROM THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, BUT I WOULD SEE MUCH LESS POINT IN HIM BEING ACCOMPANIED BY MIDDLE LEVEL BUSINESSMEN).

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