CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 1693
OF 12133OZ SEPTEMBER 90
INFO PRIORITY BTC HONG KONG
CONFIDENTIAL
RECE
006066
02634 MDHOAN 6703
SEP 1990
TRY
TOP COPY DIST?
FOR GOVERNOR FROM PS/LORD CAITHNESS
44
YOUR TELNOS 2748 AND 2727: VISIT TO HONG KONG BY LORD CAITHNESS 1. I HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE PROGRAMME IN SOME DETAIL WITH LORD CAITHNESS. HE SEES ONLY TWO FURTHER SLOTS WHERE NEW ENGAGEMENTS MIGHT BE INSERTED, WITH A POSSIBLE THIRD FALL-BACK
THESE ARE 0900-0930 ON 20 SEPTEMBER, ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE VISIT TO THE SOCIAL SERVICES INSTITUTIONS COULD BE SHORTENED A LITTLE: 1715-1745 ON 19 SEPTEMBER: AND, IF NECESSARY, 0845-0915 ON 18 SEPTEMBER. OTHER THAN THESE SLOTS, LORD CAITHNESS WOULD NOT WISH HIS PROGRAMME TO BECOME ANY MORE TIGHTLY PACKED.
SLOT.
2. GRATEFUL THEREFORE IF YOU COULD ARRANGE A MEETING WITH THE CONCERNED BRITISH EXPATRIATES SOCIETY (FIRST TUR) PREFERABLY FOR 0900 ON 20 SEPTEMBER.
3.
ON YOUR SECOND TUR, THERE IS A FEELING AT THIS END THAT A MEETING WITH THE VIETNAMESE REFUGEE AND BOAT PEOPLE PROBLEM CONCERN GROUP WOULD GIVE LORD CAITHNESS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE PUBLICLY HIS DESIRE TO LISTEN TO THE CONCERNS OF HONG KONG PEOPLE AT THE GRASS ROOTS LEVEL ABOUT A PROBLEM WHICH WE KNOW TO BE A MAJOR IRRITANT. REFUSAL TO SEE THEM MIGHT BE MISUNDERSTOOD LOCALLY OR EXPLOITED BY THE PRESS IN AN UNHELPFUL
WOULD A BRIEF MEETING AT 1715 ON 19 SEPTEMBER CAUSE YOU DIFFICULTIES QUERY.
WAY.
4.
THE SLOT BEFORE EXCO CAN BE KEPT IN RESERVE, IN CASE THERE IS A FURTHER REQUEST FOR A MEETING BY A SUFFICIENTLY HIGH-PRIORITY GROUP.
5.
LORD CAITHNESS WOULD LIKE BRIEFLY TO SEE THE COLVIN HOUSE SITE. COULD A BRIEF DRIVE-PAST BE ALLOWED FOR AT SOME POINT QUERY.
6.
LORD CAITHNESS WOULD WELCOME CONFIRMATION THAT HE WILL NOT/NOT NEED BLACK TIE FOR ANY PART OF THE PROGRAMME. 7. YOU MENTION (PARAGRAPH 2 OF YOUR TELNO 2742) THE OMELCO BROCHURE ON PROMOTING HONG KONG AS AN INTERNATIONAL CITY. MARTIN BARROW GAVE LORD CAITHNESS A COPY WHEN HE CALLED EARLIER THIS WEEK, WHICH THE MINISTER WILL HAVE READ BY THE TIME HE
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PAGE CONFIDENTIAL
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