SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TELNO 2293
TO DESKBY 190830Z FCO
OF 190808Z JULY 91
SECRET
HKD 0.26/13
RECEIVER
31
1 AUG 190
TOP COPY
O DIST?
105544
MDHIAN 6053
PERSONAL FOR COX HKD FROM GOVERNOR.
YOUR TELNO 1323: VISIT BY PM AND SECRETARY OF STATE.
1. I DO NOT THINK THAT THERE IS ANY ABSOLUTE NECESSITY FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO STOP-OVER IN HONG KONG EN ROUTE TO PEKING. IT WILL BE SUFFICIENT FOR THE PRIME MINISTER TO VISIT THE TERRITORY AFTER HIS TRIP TO PEKING.
2. IF HOWEVER THE SECRETARY OF STATE CAN SPARE THE TIME TO GO TO PEKING THROUGH HONG KONG, WE COULD USEFULLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HIS STOP-OVER TO BRING HIM UP-TO-DATE ON HONG KONG MATTERS. ARRIVAL AT 1700 ON 30 AUGUST SHOULD ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME FOR THIS, ALTHOUGH THE PROGRAMME MIGHT BE RATHER TIGHT DEPENDING ON WHEN THE SECRETARY OF STATE INTENDS TO FLY TO PEKING THE FOLLOWING DAY (FLIGHTS LEAVE AT 0820, 1010 AND 1220).
3. IF THE SECRETARY OF STATE DECIDES NOT TO COME TO HONG KONG, WE SHOULD ALLOW TIME TO BRIEF HIM AND THE PRIME MINISTER ON HONG KONG ISSUES IN PEKING BEFORE THEY GET INVOLVED IN ANY TALKS. I CONTINUE TO BELIEVE IT WOULD BE RIGHT FOR MET TO ATTEND THE SIGNING CEREMONY (MY TELNO 2218). I COULD ARRANGE TO GET THERE ON SATURDAY 31 AUGUST IN ORDER TO BRING THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE PRIME MINISTER UP-TO-DATE ON HONG KONG ISSUES.
4. GRATEFUL FOR INFORMATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE ON THE PRIME MINISTER'S DETAILED FLIGHT PLANS AND WHO WILL ACCOMPANY HIM AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE. IN THE MEANTIME, WE WILL START WORK ON A DRAFT OUTLINE PROGRAMME FOR A TWO-DAY VISIT TO HONG KONG ON 4 - 5 SEPTEMBER.
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5. GRATEFUL ALSO FOR CONFIRMATION SOON THAT MINISTERS AGREE THAT I SHOULD BE IN PEKING FOR THE SIGNING CEREMONY AND ANY TALKS INVOLVING HONG KONG. I NEED TO MAKE THE NECESSARY ARRANGEMENTS BEFORE LEAVING ON 27 JULY.
WILSON
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