TNAG-2355-FCO40-3426-Visit-by-Douglas-Hurd--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Co-1991 — Page 217

CONFIDENTIAL

ROUTINE

Peking from Hong Kong on 5 April and leaving China on

8 or 9 April.

(b) A visit to Hong Kong combined with one to another country

in the region (eg India or Malaysia)

(c)

A visit to Hong Kong alone.

2.

The Secretary of State is holding a meeting on 20 February

at which it is hoped that a final decision will be taken. In

preparing for this meeting, we shall of course draw on all your

previous advice. But it would also be helpful to have your

views and those of Sir A Donald on how a visit to Hong Kong

alone and one to Hong Kong and China should be handled, together

with some preliminary ideas on possible programmes in each

place. It would be particularly helpful to have your advice on

the sort of issues the Secretary of State should focus on in the

event of a visit to Hong Kong alone. What will Hong Kong be

expecting from him?

3. The Secretary of State has noted the arguments in previous

exchanges of telegrams in favour of a visit to China as well as

Hong Kong. He is not yet convinced that there will enough substance in visits to Peking to ward off domestic criticism and

has commented that we cannot allow the Chinese a right of veto

over visits by British ministers to Hong Kong.

4. Grateful for replies Deskby 190820Z.

HURD

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