TNAG-2256-FCO40-3240-Hong-Kong-Port-and-Airport-Development-Strategy-(PADS)-gene-1991 — Page 50

SECRET FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELNO 526

OF 20124OZ MARCH 91

SECRET

258

HKB 182 12

005417

MDHOAN 0190

! RECEWER M

"Y

2 5 MAR 1991

DESK

STAY

INDEX

Taken

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG BIC HONG KONG

257

STRICTLY PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM BURNS, AUSS

(FOR PEKING: PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR)

(FOR UKREP JLG: PERSONAL FOR GALSWORTHY)

(FOR BTC HONG KONG: PERSONAL FOR HEAP)

KONG:

HKC026/2-(66

YOUR TELNO 849 AND PEKING TELNO 347: SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT

TO CHINA

1. YOUR REBUKE IS WELL DESERVED. I AM MORTIFIED THAT THIS SHOULD HAVE SLIPPED PAST IN THIS WAY. I HAVE REITERATED TO ALL CONCERNED THE SECRECY OF THIS EXERCISE. I DO HOPE THAT NOT TOO MUCH DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE.

2.

I WELL RECOGNISE THE VERY REAL DIFFICULTIES WHICH WE MAY BE CAUSING PEKING (SIR A DONALD'S TUR) BY THE DECISION TO DELAY THE ANNOUNCEMENT UNTIL NEXT WEEK. YOU WILL KNOW FROM FCO TELNO 508 (NOT TO ALL) THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS STILL EXTREMELY SENSITIVE TO THE POLITICAL RISK OF GOING TO PEKING AND FINDING EITHER THAT HE IS UNABLE TO BRING HOME A SATISFACTORY AMOUNT OF BACON OR THAT HE BECOMES EMBROILED IN DETAILED NEGOTIATIONS ON ISSUES WHICH ARE SOLELY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.

3. THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE TIMING OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAME DIRECTLY FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE. BUT BECAUSE OF HIS VERY HEAVY TRAVEL PROGRAMME IN RECENT DAYS, WE SIMPLY HAVE NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO OVER WITH HIM THE TACTICS FOR THIS VISIT IN THE DETAIL WE MIGHT HAVE WISHED. WITH HIS PRESENT ABSENCE IN MOSCOW, THE BEST WE CAN HOPE TO DO WILL BE TO PUT A DRAFT STEERING BRIEF AND OTHER PAPERS TO HIM OVER THE WEEKEND ALTHOUGH WE ARE CONSULTING HIS PARTY ABOUT PROGRAMME DETAILS AS MUCH AS WE CAN. THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL BE IN LONDON NEXT WEEK, ALTHOUGH HE WILL PAY TWO VISITS, TO PARIS AND LUXEMBOURG, AND THE OFFICE WILL BE CLOSING DOWN FOR EASTER FROM MID-DAY ON THURSDAY, 28 MARCH. WE SHALL BE MAKING ARRANGEMENTS TO MAN HKD AND FED OVER THE EASTER WEEKEND, THOUGH WE HOPE TO HAVE BROKEN THE BACK OF THE BRIEFING BEFORE.

4.

THE POINTS THAT ALAN DONALD MAKES IN PARAGRAPHS 4 AND 5 OF

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