TNAG-2360-FCO40-3431-Visit-by-John-Major--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Hong-Kong--Septem-1991 — Page 165

CONFIDENTIAL

Mr Kaifu decides to do during his own visit (10

-

13 August), a review of the Peoples Liberation Army by the Prime Minister in the

very square where the 1989 events took place would look very bad presentationally. We have

consulted our Ambassador who considers that the Chinese would regard a guard of honour as an

essential element in a visit at this level. (We have to remember too that they want to present the visit as a mark of the full

normalisation of relations). The Foreign Secretary however recommends that we should tell the Chinese firmly, from the beginning, that the Prime Minister will not want a guard of honour. If they press us, we should say that media coverage of such an event would largely negate all positive images coming out of the visit and have the opposite effect to what both sides are hoping for.

Beyond the formal elements of the visit the Prime Minister might like to meet a representative group of British residents in Peking, including businessmen, teachers and students, perhaps at a reception at the residence. That might also provide an opportunity for the Prime Minister to meet Embassy staff. He could also perhaps meet a group of returned British Council

scholars, to hear s ome

generation.

unofficial voices of the younger

Assuming the Prime Minister i is able to undertake no

CONFIDENTIAL

Page 165Page 166