CONFIDENTIAL
TOP COPY Q DIST?
In Stone (57
160636 MDHIAN 4548
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE CANBERRA
TELNO 14
OF 011014Z MAY 91
AND TO IMMEDIATE WELLINGTON
INFO IMMEDIATE FCO, GENEVA, SINGAPORE
HW B3027/1
PERSONAL FOR HIGH COMMISSIONER FROM GOVERNOR.
WELLINGTON PERSONAL FOR HIGH COMMISSIONER.
FCO PERSONAL FOR PAUL, HKD.
SINGAPORE PERSONAL FOR PS/LORD CAITHNESS (VISITING)
GENEVA PERSONAL FOR BURNS, AUSS (VISITING).
MY TELNO 12: MY VISIT TO AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND 8-18 MAY.
1. SINCE SENDING TUR THE LIKELIHOOD OF HAVING TO CANCEL OR POSTPONE MY TRIP HAS INCREASED, ALTHOUGH I STILL CANNOT MAKE ANY DECISION OR OVERT MORE SINCE WE DO NOT KNOW THE TIMING OF RESUMED TALKS WITH THE CHINESE ON OUR NEW AIRPORT. I SPOKE TODAY TO THE AUSTRALIAN CONSUL-GENERAL, GEOFFREY BENTLEY, AND THE NEW ZEALAND COMMISSIONER, DON GREENFIELD, TO ALERT THEM TO THE POSSIBILITY THAT I MIGHT HAVE TO CANCEL IF TALKS WITH THE CHINESE RESUMED OVER THE PERIOD OF MY INTENDED VISIT. BOTH SAID THAT THEIR GOVERNMENTS WOULD BE DISAPPOINTED IF I HAD TO CANCEL BUT WOULD FULLY UNDERSTAND WHY.
3. I EXPLORED WITH BENTLEY THE POSSIBILITY OF A CURTAILED VISIT TO AUSTRALIA, PERHAPS JUST TO CANBERRA. HE SAID THAT A MEETING WITH HIS PRIME MINISTER AND OTHER MINISTERS COULD PROBABLY BE REARRANGED. BUT IF A PARTIAL VISIT NOW MEANT NO/NO FULL VISIT LATER (AS ALMOST CERTAINLY IT WOULD), HE WOULD PREFER TO CANCEL ALL THE ARRANGEMENTS NOW AND PLAN FOR ANOTHER VISIT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
4. GREENFIELD MADE IT PRETTY OBVIOUS THAT HIS GOVERNMENT WOULD BE UNEASY IF THE VISIT TO NEW ZEALAND WERE CANCELLED BUT A CURTAILED VISIT TO AUSTRALIA WENT AHEAD. HOWEVER, HE EMPHASISED THAT HIS GOVERNMENT WOULD UNDERSTAND IF CANCELLATION WERE NECESSARY.
5. THE POSITION IS UNLIKELY TO BECOME ANY CLEARER UNTIL AT LEAST FRIDAY (3 MAY). THE CHINESE HAVE A TWO DAY HOLIDAY (1 AND 2 MAY). I WILL LET YOU KNOW AS SOON AS THERE IS ANY INDICATION OF WHEN
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CONFIDENTIAL
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