TNAG-2360-FCO40-3431-Visit-by-John-Major--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Hong-Kong--Septem-1991 — Page 126

CONFIDENTIAL

2

Guard of Honour

The Prime Minister agrees we should tell the Chinese firmly that we do not want a Guard of Honour.

Mrs Major's Programme

Mrs Major will obviously want to go sight-seeing with the Prime Minister. She would like in addition to visit the Forbidden city and the Terracotta Soldiers (or are these part of the Ming Tombs anyway?).

Mrs Major would be interested to see a Chinese opera in rehearsal and perhaps to meet some of those involved in the production and performance, but there will not be time to see an opera itself. Mrs Major would be very happy to meet Embassy and other British wives in Peking.

Mrs Major has no particular wish to visit schools or other arts and crafts establishments, but would obviously consider a school if it had a particularly British

connection. I think the next step would be for the Post to make detailed recommendations.

Hong Kong

The Prime Minister agrees that he should

i.

meet ExCo;

ii.

make a helicopter tour of Hong Kong;

iii.

give a press conference;

iv.

meet British and Hong Kong businessmen at a lunch hosted by the British Trade Commissioner.

I am copying this letter to Simon Webb (Ministry of Defence) and to Robert Canniff (Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster's Office) since I believe Mr Patten has expressed an interest in his programme.

Jaux,

Sheple

J S WALL

RHT Gozney Esq

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

CONFIDENTIAL