TNAG-2360-FCO40-3431-Visit-by-John-Major--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Hong-Kong--Septem-1991 — Page 173

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HPLNAN 5636 PEHPAN 1294

CONFIDENTIAL

DD 1609OOZ FCOLN

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16 23Z JUL

GRS 234

CONFIDENTIAL

FM PEKING

TO DESKBY 16090OZ F C O

TELNO 1117

OF 160823Z JULY 21

HKP $26/13

RECEIVED IN REGIÉTRY

1 AUG 1991

DESK OFFIC INDEX

i

Le (PS/lore Cantemen

m

The Burm

[πr Paul HKD) Ранко

Mafox Mamertin ew.

FOR F E D.

YOUR TELNO 775.

VISIT OF THE PRIME MINISTER: GUARD OF HONOUR.

1.

NEITHER OUR JAPANESE OR ITALIAN COLLEAGUES HAVE YET THOUGHT THIS FAR FORWARD. JAPANESE PREPARATIONS WILL BEGIN WITH THE VISIT OF A TEAM SHORTLY AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF THE G7 SUMMIT. NEITHER SEEM UNDULY FUSSED.

2. RECENT PRACTICE HAS BEEN FOR WELCOMING AND DEPARTURE CEREMONIES TO TAKE PLACE OUTSIDE THE GREAT HALL OF THE PEOPLE RATHER THAN AT THE AIRPORT IN ORDER TO SAVE WEAR AND TEAR ON THE CHINESE LEADERSHIP. TO THE BEST OF OUR UNDERSTANDING THESE CEREMONIES INCLUDE A GUARD OF HONOUR WHERE THE VISITOR IS TO BE RECEIVED BY LI PENG.

3. I DO NOT THINK THE CHINESE DISTINGUISH BETWEEN OFFICIAL AND WORKING VISITS WHERE PRIME MINISTERS ARE CONCERNED. IT WOULD IN ANY CASE BE A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO ARGUE THAT MR. MAJOR'S VISIT WAS WORKING'' IN CHARACTER WHEN IT HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED THAT HE HAS ACCEPTED PREMIER LI PENG'S INVITATION TO VISIT CHINA.

4. WE SHOULD RECOGNISE THAT OUR WISH TO PLAY THE VISIT QUIETLY WILL NOT BE SHARED BY THE CHINESE. IF SO INSTRUCTED I WILL OF COURSE PUT IT TO THE FOREIGN MINISTRY THAT THE PRIME MINISTER WOULD PREFER TO DISPENSE WITH CEREMONIAL SO AS TO HAVE MORE TIME FOR DISCUSSIONS WITH CHINESE LEADERS. BUT I WOULD NOT EXPECT THE CHINESE TO BE SYMPATHETIC TO THIS LINE OF ARGUMENT. PARA 16 OF MY TELNO 1098 IS RELEVANT.

MCLAREN

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