TNAG-2360-FCO40-3431-Visit-by-John-Major--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Hong-Kong--Septem-1991 — Page 136

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 2380

OF 261032Z JULY 91

HKD

826/13

Plus

AUG 199

INFO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG, PEKING

16

126516

MDHIAN 6924

Pris visit file

MY TELNO 2363: PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO CHINA: ATTENDANCE AT SIGNATURE CEREMONY.

1. I HAVE DISCUSSED WITH SIR R. MCLAREN LU'S REFERENCE TO THE ATTENDANCE OF A GROUP OF PEOPLE FROM HONG KONG AT THE SIGNATURE

CEREMONY.

2. WE BOTH CONSIDER THAT THE HONG KONG INTEREST CAN BE ADEQUATELY REPRESENTED BY THE ATTENDANCE OF MYSELF AND A SMALL GROUP OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. I SEE NO BENEFIT, AND SOME POTENTIAL DIFFICULTY, IN ANY LARGER ATTENDANCE. MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHOM THE CHINESE ARE LIKELY TO WISH TO BE PRESENT WOULD BE THEIR FRIENDS WHO HAVE BEEN PUBLICLY CRITICAL OF THE AIRPORT PROJECT. IT WOULD BE SEEN HERE AS ODD THAT THEY SHOULD TAKE PART IN THE SIGNATURE CEREMONY, EVEN IF THEY WERE BALANCED BY AN APPROPRIATE NUMBER OF

OUR NOMINEES.

3. I RECOMMEND THEREFORE THAT WE SHOULD TRY TO HEAD THE CHINESE OFF IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. SIR R. MCLAREN MIGHT USEFULLY GO OVER THE DETAILS OF THE SIGNATURE CEREMONY WHEN HE DISCUSSES ARRANGEMENT FOR THE VISIT AS A WHOLE, ONCE DATES HAVE BEEN AGREED. IF THE CHINESE INSIST ON A LARGER HONG KONG ATTENDANCE, THEN WE IN TURN WILL HAVE TO INSIST ON AN AGREED AND BALANCED LIST.

WILSON

YYYY

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CONFIDENTIAL