TNAG-2049-FCO40-2919-Visits-by-Lord-Caithness--Minister-of-State-for-Foreign-and--1990 — Page 11

BY FAX

C Osborne Esq BTC

Hong Kong

B34

FILE

93

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

CONFIDENTIAL

London SW1A 2AH

•HWAB 026/24 thaB

TRY

30

A

15 October 1990

Dear Chris,

LORD CAITHNESS' VISIT TO HONG KONG: LESSONS FOR THE FUTURE

1.

It is not clear whether you have seen, or were consulted about, Hong Kong telno 2897, which seeks to draw some lessons from our experience of Lord Caithness' recent visit to Hong Kong.

2. In any case, I would very much welcome your views, particularly on the value of the concluding press conference. We share the Governor's doubts about this feature of the programme. The press conference tends to dominate the visit in an unhelpful way to an extent which is out of all proportion to its real importance.

3. On the question of pressure groups, we agree that we should, in principle, try to get away from the routine of meeting so many such groups. But this is a difficult balance to strike. The trick will be to avoid getting sucked into issues which are internal Hong Kong matters, while demonstrating a keen interest in, and commitment to, the major current preoccupations of Hong Kong people. In the final analysis this is no doubt something which we would have to play by ear.

4.

We also think that more time should be allowed for the Minister to discuss matters seriously with the Governor and his advisers and with accompanying officials. The unremitting round of insider tourism on these visits means that there is barely enough time to draw breath, let alone to reflect on what one is seeing.

JONAEX

CONFIDENTIAL