TNAG-2050-FCO40-2920-Visits-by-Lord-Caithness--Minister-of-State-for-Foreign-and--1990 — Page 126

A/

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 3327

OF 130955Z NOVEMBER 90

CONFIDENTIAL

(05)

065362

MDHIAN 9095

HKB 024/34

RECEIVE

+

14 NOV 1990

DESK OFFICER

PA

TOR INDE

Q DIST

PERSONAL FOR PAUL, HKD FROM GOVERNOR

104)

YRTELNO 2129: LORD CAITHNESS' TRAVEL PLANS

1. I WELCOME LORD CAITHNESS' INTENTION TO VISIT HONG KONG APPROXIMATELY EVERY SIX MONTHS, ALTHOUGH I AM NOT MYSELF SURE THAT REGULAR VISITS WILL SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE PRESS INTEREST.

2. AS YOU KNOW, I AM PLANNING TO VISIT PEKING AND TIANJIN IN THE WEEK BEGINNING 21 JANUARY. WE HAVE NOT YET HAD CONFIRMATION FROM THE CHINESE THAT THE DATES I HAVE PROPOSED ARE CONVENIENT FOR THEM.

3. ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT I DO GO TO PEKING AS PLANNED, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SOME UNDUE SIGNIFICANCE MAY BE READ INTO A VISIT BY

LORD CAITHNESS TO HONG KONG IN THE FOLLOWING WEEK. BUT I DO NOT THINK THAT THIS IS SUFFICIENT REASON FOR THE MINISTER NOT TO COME THEN. THERE MUST BE SOME POSSIBILITY THAT THE CHINESE WILL NOT

ACCEPT THE DATES I HAVE GIVEN THEM AND SUGGEST ALTERNATIVES

WHICH CONFLICT WITH THE MINISTER'S PLANS. I HOPE NOT. WE CAN DEAL

WITH THIS WHEN AND IF IT HAPPENS.

4. I ASSUME THAT IN PRACTICE WE ARE LOOKING AT A VISIT OF THREE WORKING DAYS FROM 30 JANUARY TO 1 FEBRUARY INCLUSIVE. MY ONLY UNBREAKABLE COMMITMENT DURING THIS PERIOD IS A DINNER ON THE EVENING OF 1 FEBRUARY, BUT I WOULD BE ABLE TO LEAVE IN TIME TO SEE THE MINISTER OFF AT THE AIRPORT.

5. AT THIS STAGE, I SEE NO DIFFICULTY WITH A VISIT TO HONG KONG AND CHINA IN SEPTEMBER 1991.

6. I AGREE THAT THERE WILL NOT BE TIME ON 16 DECEMBER FOR LORD CAITHNESS TO DO ANYTHING SUBSTANTIVE BETWEEN HIS FLIGHTS, AND THAT THERE IS NO POINT IN EXTENDING HIS STOP-OVER. BUT I SHOULD

LIKE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVEN THIS SHORT STOP TO GO TO THE AIRPORT TO MEET THE MINISTER AND HAVE A BRIEF CHAT.

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