TNAG-2231-FCO40-3203-Visits-by-David-Wilson--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--to-the-UK-and-1991 — Page 73

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELNO 1121

OF 12153OZ JUNE 91

103

CONFIDENTIAL

YOUR TELNO 1866: YOUR VISIT TO LONDON

IN

HARD Oral

027 TOP COPY Q DIST ?

pa

Copy Suey(1)

Tos

C

144151

MDHOAN 5299

1. EDWARD BICKHAM HAS BEEN A SPECIAL ADVISER TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR AND HAS PREVIOUSLY SERVED IN THAT CAPACITY IN THE NORTHERN IRELAND OFFICE AND THE HOME OFFICE. WE ARE FAXING TO YOU HIS CV. HE VISITED BOTH CHINA AND HONG KONG BRIEFLY IN 1979.

2.

THE PALACE HAVE NO OBJECTION TO YOUR MAKING KNOWN IN ADVANCE YOUR AUDIENCE WITH THE QUEEN. HOWEVER, NEWS DEPARTMENT ARE INCLINED TO THINK THAT IT WOULD BE EASIER TO AVOID THE KIND OF SPECULATION YOU MENTION, FOR WHICH HONG KONG STRINGERS IN LONDON WOULD BE A PRIME SOURCE, IF THERE WAS NO ADVANCE ANNOUNCEMENT AND IT COULD BE PRESENTED AFTER THE EVENT AS ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF A SUCCESSFUL VISIT. THE NEWS WOULD NOT BE LIKELY TO BREAK HERE IN ADVANCE. BUT WE ARE CONTENT FOR YOU TO DECIDE. IF YOU DO DECIDE TO LET THE AUDIENCE BECOME KNOWN BEFORE YOUR DEPARTURE, GRATEFUL FOR ADVANCE WARNING.

3. THERE IS NO OBJECTION TO YOUR MAKING KNOWN, IN THE WAY YOU SUGGEST, YOUR MEETING WITH THE PRIME MINISTER. IF QUESTIONED, WE WOULD PROPOSE TO TAKE THE FOLLOWING LINE:

''THE GOVERNOR IS ON ONE OF HIS REGULAR VISITS TO THE UK, AND WILL BE TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY TO CALL ON THE PRIME MINISTER. THE PRIME MINISTER TAKES A CLOSE INTEREST IN HONG KONG AND THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MR MAJOR TO BE BROUGHT UP TO DATE ON CURRENT ISSUES AND FEELINGS THERE''

·

QUOTE (IF ASKED) NOT UNUSUAL FOR THE GOVERNOR TO CALL ON THE PRIME MINISTER. CALL ARRANGED BY MUTUAL AGREEMENT UNQUOTE.

HURD

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1

PAGE CONFIDENTIAL