CONFIDENTIAL
HKD
026/9
024003 MDHIAN 9656
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 949
OF 261133Z MARCH 91
TOP COP Q DIST V
INFO PRIORITY BTC HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
PERSONAL FOR PAUL, HKD, FROM GOVERNOR.
YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 573: SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO HONG KONG.
1. THANK YOU FOR THE FURTHER COMMENTS IN TUR. THE CONSERVATIVES ABROAD APPRECIATE THAT THE VISIT IS A BRIEF ONE AND WILL NOT, I THINK, BE UNDULY DISAPPOINTED THAT THEIR OFFER TO HOST DRINKS HAS BEEN DECLINED. THEY HAVE DONE VERY WELL ON PREVIOUS MINISTERIAL
VISITS.
2. A PROPER WALK AFTER ARRIVAL ON 2 APRIL CAN CERTAINLY BE ARRANGED. I AM LOOKING AT VARIOUS POSSIBILITIES ON HONG KONG ISLAND FROM WHICH WE CAN CHOOSE ACCORDING TO WEATHER AND HOW THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND MRS HURD FEEL AFTER A LONG FLIGHT. TO ALLOW TIME FOR A GOOD LEG STRETCHER, AND SINCE THE DRINKS WITH THE CONSERVATIVES ABROAD NO LONGER NEED TO BE FITTED IN, I SUGGEST THAT THE MEETING WITH ME AND SENIOR OFFICIALS SHOULD START HALF AN HOUR LATER CAT 5.30 PM).
3. FOR EXERCISE ON 9 APRIL A SWIM WOULD BE THE MOST CONVENIENT, AS THE DAY IS A BUSY ONE. THE WATER IN THE GH POOL IS STILL FAIRLY BRACING BUT QUITE BEARABLE.
4. WE ARE WORKING ON THE SUGGESTIONS FOR MRS HURD'S PROGRAMME AND WILL REVERT TO YOU SHORTLY.
5. SEPARATELY, I NOTE FROM PEKING TELNO 368 THAT THE AMBASSADOR HAD SUGGESTED THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE RETURN TO HONG KONG AT 1855 ON MONDAY 8 APRIL, SLIGHTLY EARLIER THAN ORIGINALLY PLANNED. IF THIS BECOMES FIRM, HOW WOULD THE SECRETARY OF STATE LIKE TO SPEND THE EVENING? A QUIET DINNER (IE. NO OTHER GUESTS, EXCEPT PROBABLY THE CS) WOULD PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DE BRIEFING BEFORE THE EXCO MEETING ON THE FOLLOWING MORNING. IT MIGHT BE SLIGHTLY MORE RELAXING TO DO THIS ABOARD THE LADY MAURINE. GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD LET ME HAVE THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S VIEWS.
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