TNAG-2353-FCO40-3423-Visits-by-Lord-Caithness--Minister-of-State-for-Foreign-and--1991 — Page 233

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146531 MDHIAN 1145

REPORT AND SONG UNDERTOOK TO RECONSIDER.

4.

SONG ALSO ASKED ABOUT IDEAS FOR LADY CAITHNESS' SEPARATE PROGRAMME. COUNSELLOR DREW ON MY TELNO 1695 WITHOUT INDICATING

ANY PRIORITY.

5.

FINALLY, TO PREVENT THE CHINESE GOING FIRM ON THE HIGH LEVEL APPOINTMENTS ALREADY MADE FOR 27 NOVEMBER, COUNSELLOR MENTIONED TO SONG THE POSSIBILITY OF A CHANGE IN THE TIMING OF THE VISIT. SONG WAS HIS NORMAL EQUITABLE SELF BUT HIS COLLEAGUE, WHO HAD MADE THE DETAILED ARRANGEMENTS, LOOKED MORE DISMAYED. THE CHINESE SIDE WOULD BE UNABLE TO BID FOR SPACE IN MINISTERS' DIARIES UNTIL WE GIVE THEM A FIRM INDICATION OF ANY CHANGE OF DATE.

SCENARIOS.

6. CAAC'S WINTER TIMETABLE PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING RELEVANT FLIGHT INFORMATION:

SCENARIO A

30 NOVEMBER

02 DECEMBER

04 DECEMBER

PEKING-XIAN

XIAN-SHANGHAI

ETD 1535 ETA 1655 ETD 0840 ETA 1030

SHANGHAI-GUANGZHOU ETD 0830 ETA 1010

SCENARIO B 30 NOVEMBER

PEKING-SHANGHAI

ETD 1550 ETA 1730

ETD 1650 ETA 1830

ETD 1820 ETA 2000

ETD 1600 ETA 1740

ETD 1930 ETA 2110

7. WE HAVE NO STRONG PREFERENCE ON SCENARIOS. SHANGHAI HAVE POINTED OUT THAT SCENARIO B WOULD MINIMISE THE POSSIBILITY OF OFFICIAL CALLS/VISITS SINCE SHANGHAI BEGINS ITS WEEKEND OR PARTY STUDY SESSIONS AT NOON ON SATURDAYS. I AM PLANNING TO GIVE LUNCH FOR WILLIAM PURVES OF H K BON 5 DECEMBER AND HAVE PENCILLED-IN FOR LORD ROLL ON 6 DECEMBER BUT LORD CAITHNESS WOULD OBVIOUSLY COME FIRST. IF SCENARIO B WERE CHOSEN A DAY VISIT TO SUZHOU ON 1 DECEMBER WOULD BE POSSIBLE LEAVING BY THE 0830 TRAIN TO AVOID CONGESTED ROADS AND RETURNING TO SHANGHAI BY C. 1730.

COMMENT.

8.

WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PERSUADE THE CHINESE TO AGREE TO LORD

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