TNAG-2234-FCO40-3207-FCO-sponsored-visits-from-Hong-Kong-to-the-UK-1991 — Page 82

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FM PEKING

TO DESKBY 13093OZ F CO

TELNO 166

OF 130815Z FEBRUARY 91

037154

MDHIAN 3542

Mag 027/3 P Sponsored Visits Hiking

р-д

ED

INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG, B T C HONG KONG

YOUR TELNO 113. SPONSORED VISITS PROGRAMME.

THE STATE OF PLAY OVER SPONSORED VISITS IS AS FOLLOWS:

1.

MAYOR OF NINGBO (CAT I): WE HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE

YOU MAYOR'S OFFICE AND HAVE ISSUED THE FORMAL INVITATION. WILL BE AWARE OF THE PROPOSAL FROM SHANGHAI TELNO VISIT 1. THE MAYOR HAS NOT REPLIED SUGGESTING DATES.

2. GOVERNOR OF YUNNAN (CAT II): DAVIDSON'S TELELETTER OF 6 FEBRUARY REFERS. WE STILL AWAIT DATES FROM GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

YE QING (CAT II): OUR TELNO 162 REFERS.

DATES LIKELY TO BE IN EARLY JUNE. FORMAL INVITATION WILL ISSUE IN DUE COURSE.

3.

4.

ZOU JIAHUA (CHAIRMAN OF SPC), NIE BICHU (MAYOR OF TIANJIN), CHEN YUAN (VICE-GOVERNOR, PEOPLE'S BANK OF CHINA): OUR TELNO 1 REFERS. WE HAVE CONTACTED THEM THROUGH THEIR OFFICES EXPRESSING OUR HOPE THAT THEY WILL VISIT THE UK THIS YEAR. WE COULD NOW ISSUE FORMAL INVITATIONS, THOUGH IT HAS LONG BEEN PRACTICE HERE TO AGREE A VISIT IN PRINCIPLE WITH THE RELEVANT ORGAN BEFORE ISSUING A PRO-FORMA INVITATION.

5. WE HAVE AGREED WITH SHANGHAI CONSULATE-GENERAL THAT MACDONALD SHOULD INVITE ZHU RONGJI TO BRITAIN WHEN HE PAYS HIS FIRST CALL ON THE MAYOR.

6

I AM SORRY NOT TO BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU MORE CONCRETE NEWS, BUT I KNOW YOU APPRECIATE THE DIFFICULTY IN GETTING SWIFT RESPONSES FROM CHINESE BODIES IT MAY BE THAT AFTER SPRING FESTIVAL WE WILL HAVE MORE LUCK. YOU WILL ALSO BE AWARE THAT WAN LI'S PROJECTED VISIT LAST NOVEMBER WAS POSTPONED, NOT CANCELLED. HE MAY WELL REVERT TO HIS INVITATION THIS YEAR.

DONALD.

1

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