TNAG-2360-FCO40-3431-Visit-by-John-Major--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Hong-Kong--Septem-1991 — Page 82

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 061145Z F C O

TELNO 2468

OF 06104OZ AUGUST 91

CONFIDENTIAL

HKD $26/13.

- 8 AUG 1991

CE

STC HONG

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, BTC HONG KONG

TOP COPY Q DIST?

46

156511

MDHIAN 7951

YOUR TELNO 1432: PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO HONG KONG:

PROGRAMME

WE HAVE DISCUSSED WITH SBTC AND HAVE CONSULTED THE GOVERNOR.

2. WE CONSIDER A RECEPTION FOR THE EXPATRIATE SUPPORTS OF THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY IN HONG KONG WOULD BE APPROPRIATE. SBTC HAS THEREFORE SUGGESTED REPLACING HIS RECEPTION WITH A DINNER FOR BRITISH BUSINESSMEN.

3.

WE HAVE RECONSIDERED THE DESIRABILITY OF THE PM VISITING A

VBP CAMP DURING HIS VISIT. GIVEN THE LOCAL INTEREST IN THE VBP ISSUE AND THE ATTENTION THAT VISITING MINISTERS HAVE ALWAYS GIVEN TO THE SUBJECT, THE OMISSION OF A VISIT BY THE PM MIGHT ATTRACT UNFAVOURABLE COMMENT. WE WOULD THEREFORE SUGGEST FITTING IN A SHORT VISIT TO A CAMP WHICH CAN BE COMBINED WITH THE HELICOPTER TOUR. DEPENDING UPON MR. MAJOR'S TIME OF ARRIVAL THIS MIGHT MEAN MISSING OUT THE BRIEFING AT CLK WHICH COULD THEN BE DONE FROM THE

AIR. THE CAMP WE HAVE IN MIND IS THE HIGH ISLAND VBP CAMP WHICH HAS BEEN BUILT WITH UK FUNDING.

4. WE HAVE REVIEWED THE LOGISTICS OF THE VISIT TO SOUTHERN DISTRICT. WE WOULD PROPOSE AN ALTERNATIVE VISIT TO SHATIN WHICH

WOULD ALLOW THE PARTY TO DRIVE THROUGH THE NEW TATE'S CAIRN

TUNNEL AND SEE SOME OF OUR LATEST PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.

5.

THE REVISED PROGRAMME CASSUMING THE PARTY'S ARRIVAL ON 4 SEPTEMBER IN TIME FOR A HELICOPTER TOUR ON THAT DAY) IS IN MIFT.

FORD

YYYY

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