TNAG-2115-FCO40-3018-16th-meeting-of-the-Sino-British-Joint-Liaison-Group--London-1990 — Page 162

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NESAHG

Mr Wilson

Information Department

Agreed,

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CHINESE JOINT LIAISON GROUP DELEGATION: PROPOSED CATEGORY II VISIT

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1. As you may be aware, the Sino-British Joint Liaison Group meets three times a year in plenary to discuss implementation of the Joint Declaration on Hong Kong's future. The meetings rotate between London, Peking and Hong Kong. The Senior Representatives on each side are of ambassadorial rank.

2.

A pattern has been building up since the first meeting of the JLG in 1985 for some form of post-meeting hospitality by the host side. This was disrupted by the events of June last year: it would not have been appropriate to include such an element in the September 1989 meeting in London. But we are now keen to reinstate it as part of our general effort to improve relations with the Chinese over Hong Kong. At the last JLG meeting in Peking (in December 1989) the Chinese organised a two day trip involving an overnight train journey to Datong in Northern China. We should like to reciprocate with something similar. In casual conversation, the Chinese have expressed interest in Scotland since Glasgow is the European City of Culture this year and has a large Chinese population. This might be combined with a visit to Edinburgh.

3. I should be grateful to know if such a visit could be covered by the Category II visits programme. The Joint Liaison Group meeting itself takes place on 25-28 September. I would therefore envisage a three day programme from 29 September to 1 October including one day working engagements, one day sightseeing and one day travelling. The official guest for the visit would be the Senior Representative of the Chinese JLG team, Ambassador Guo Fengmin, accompanied by members of his delegation and some of the British team, including our Senior Representative, Mr Tony Galsworthy.

4.

If you are able to give approval in principle, I shall let you have more details of the delegation and interests.

15 June 1990

cc: Ms Geddes

Ovis

Information Department

P A Major

Hong Kong Department