TNAG-2232-FCO40-3204-Visits-by-David-Wilson--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--to-the-UK-and-1991 — Page 47

RESTRICTED

RESTRICTED

FM WELLINGTON

TO ROUTINE HONG KONG TELNO 25

OF 290125Z OCTOBER 91

INFO ROUTINE FCO

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107716

MDLIAN 0096

YOUR VISIT TO NEW ZEALAND: ACCOMPANIMENT

ED

1. FOLLOWING TELECONS JACKSON/TORLOT OF 18 AND 24 OCTOBER WE HAVE LOOKED AT THE QUESTION OF ACCOMPANIMENT BY THE HIGH COMMISSIONER DURING YOUR VISIT. I AM CONSCIOUS OF THE NEED FOR HONG KONG TO BE SEEN TO BE INDEPENDENT OF THE UK IN ITS CONDUCT OF INTERNATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL AFFAIRS IN THE RUN UP TO 1997.

2. BUT GIVEN HMG'S CONTINUING RESPONSIBILITY FOR HONG KONG'S FOREIGN AFFAIRS UNTIL 1997, WE ARE WORKING ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE HIGH COMMISSIONER WILL NEED TO ACCOMPANY FOR YOUR CALLS ON THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL, THE PRIME MINISTER, THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION AND ON PHILIP BURDON (MINISTER FOR TRADE NEGOTIATIONS, MINISTER OF COMMERCE AND ALSO, ON THE DAY, ACTING MINISTER OF EXTERNAL RELATIONS AND TRADE: AS EXPLAINED IN MY TELNO 18, THIS CALL REPLACES THE ONE ON DON MCKINNON, MINISTER OF EXTERNAL RELATIONS AND TRADE, WHO WILL BE OVERSEAS). THE HIGH COMMISSIONER OR A MEMBER OF THE HIGH COMMISSION SHOULD ALSO ATTEND THE ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS AT THE MERT. THE HIGH COMMISSIONER IS INVITED TO THE MINISTERIAL LUNCH HOSTED BY RUTH RICHARDSON, MINISTER OF FINANCE, SO IT MAKES SENSE FOR HIM TO ACCOMPANY YOU TO THE CALL ON HER IMMEDIATELY BEFOREHAND. HE WILL ALSO ATTEND YOUR ADDRESS TO THE INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS.

3. IN PRACTICE, THIS MEANS THAT YOU WOULD BE UNACCOMPANIED ONLY FOR CALLS ON THE GOVERNOR OF THE RESERVE BANK, YOUR MEDIA INTERVIEWS AND YOUR CALLS IN AUCKLAND (WHICH ARE COMMERCIAL IN NATURE). GRATEFUL FOR CONFIRMATION THAT THESE ARRANGEMENTS ARE ACCEPTABLE.

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4 I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS TELEGRAM IN DRAFT WITH THE HIGH COMMISSIONER BEFORE HIS DEPARTURE FOR LONDON.

ORR