CONFIDENTIAL
Peking in April. We have already put out feelers to the Chairman of the State Planning Commission Zou Jiahua about a visit during the course of the year; he has recently been to Paris and is a key decision-maker whom we need to influence on behalf of British firms interested in the China market.
The Foreign Secretary advises against inviting Premier Li Peng himself. He is too tainted with Tiananmen and a visit would arouse considerable controversy. Someone of Vice Premier rank would be the most senior Chinese we might consider over the next twelve months or so.
We will look for opportunities to invite other reform-minded senior leaders, such as Politburo member Li Ruihuan. But the Foreign Secretary thinks it would be best for some government or senior municipal figures to come here before we invite people who hold only Party posts.
The Prime Minister asked whether he ought to plan on a visit to Hong Kong later this year. The last Prime Ministerial visit to Hong Kong was Mrs Thatcher's in December 1984, in association with her visit to Peking to sign the Joint Declaration. The Foreign Secretary would prefer not to make a recommendation until after his own visit to Hong Kong in April.
Dens
چهار
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Sir Charles Powell KCMG 10 Downing Street
CONFIDENTIAL
(S L Gass)
Private Secretary
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