CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1407
OF 071059Z MAY 91
CONFIDENTIAL
176600 MDHIAN 5338
PERSONAL FOR PAUL, HKD FROM GOVERNOR
YRTELNO 794: MY NEXT VISIT TO LONDON
1. IN LIGHT OF THIS TELEGRAM AND EVERYTHING ELSE WHICH IS GOING ON, I HAVE CONCLUDED THAT I SHOULD VISIT LONDON AS ORIGINALLY PLANNED IN LATE JUNE. I PROPOSE TO ARRIVE IN THE EARLY MORNING OF FRIDAY 21 JUNE AND BE AVAILABLE FOR BUSINESS FROM 24-26 JUNE, WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF STAYING ON FOR ANOTHER DAY IF NECESSARY.
2. ON THIS BASIS, AND BEARING IN MIND THE AVAILABILITY OF MINISTERS, I WOULD PROPOSE TO DEVOTE 24 JUNE LARGELY TO A HKGO PROGRAMME AND SPEND 25-26 JUNE MAINLY WITH THE FCO. IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, I WOULD PREFER TO SEE THE SECRETARY OF STATE ON 25 JUNE BUT WOULD UNDERSTAND IF HE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. SUBJECT TO YOUR VIEWS, I SEE SOME VALUE IN HAVING TWO SEPARATE MEETING WITH LORD CAITHNESS. PAST EXPERIENCE SUGGESTS THAT WE HAVE TOO MUCH TO DISCUSS IN A SINGLE MEETING WITHOUT IT OVERRUNNING SUBSTANTIALLY OR COVERING SOME ISSUES ONLY VERY BRIEFLY.
3. I HAVE IT IN MIND TO CALL ON ANOTHER WHITEHALL MINISTRY, AS I HAVE DONE ON A NUMBER OF PREVIOUS VISITS. SUBJECT TO YOUR VIEWS, THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD TIME TO CALL ON DTI MINISTERS AND OFFICIALS AS WE HAVE A NUMBER OF ISSUES OF COMMON INTEREST, E.G. THE NEW AIRPORT, GATT, MFN.
4. I SHALL ASK JOHN YAXLEY TO SET UP MEETINGS WITH THE BRITISH- HONG KONG PARLIAMENTARY GROUP AND WITH THE EDITORIAL BOARD OF THE DAILY TELEGRAPH, WHICH IS ONE OF THE QUALITY PAPERS I HAVE NOT YET HAD A SESSION WITH, ALTHOUGH I HAD A GOOD TALK WITH MAX HASTINGS WHEN HE WAS HERE NOT SO LONG AGO. I HAVE ALSO COMMITTED MYSELF IN PRINCIPLE TO A MEETING WITH THE COMMONWEALTH JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION.
5. GRATEFUL FOR ANY PRELIMINARY VIEWS ON THESE IDEAS AND FOR ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
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