TNAG-2231-FCO40-3203-Visits-by-David-Wilson--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--to-the-UK-and-1991 — Page 56

CONFIDENTIAL

FM PEKING

TO DESKBY 20073OZ FCO

TELNO 911

OF 200559Z JUNE 91

CONFIDENTIAL

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

(121

170667

MDHIAN 1978

TOP COPY QDIST?

MMB 027/

JUN 1991

ED

PERSONAL FOR BURNS, AUSS FROM AMBASSADOR

HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR

RO

FCO TELNO 649% HONG KONG MINISTERIAL MEETINGS

1

·

I AM NATURALLY SORRY NOT TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE IN PERSON TO WHAT IS LIKELY TO BE AN IMPORTANT MEETING. BUT OF COURSE I UNDERSTAND THE REASON WHY MINISTERS HAVE TAKEN THE DECISION THEY HAVE. THE CHINESE WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN SURPRISED BY MY SUDDEN DEPARTURE FOR LONDON AND MIGHT HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THEY HAD GOT US ON THE RUN THOUGH IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT THEY WOULD HAVE INTERPRETED MY RECALL AS AN INDICATION THAT THE PRIME MINISTER MEANT WHAT HE SAID IN HIS MESSAGE ABOUT THE NEED FOR EARLY AGREEMENT IF THE AIRPORT PROJECT IS TO GO AHEAD AS PLANNED.

2.

I WILL AIM TO SEND THE MAIN POINTS FROM MY DINNER WITH LU PING TO REACH YOU BEFORE CLOSE OF PLAY IN LONDON TODAY 20 JUNE. A MORE DETAILED REPORT WITH MY ASSESSMENT WILL FOLLOW ON 21 JUNE.

MCLAREN

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

30

LIMITED

HKD

FED

PS

PS/LORD CAITHNESS

NNNN

DISTRIBUTION

30

PS/PUS

SIR J COLES

MR BURNS

1

PAGE CONFIDENTIAL