TNAG-2463-FCO40-3585-Overseas-visits-by-Sir-David-Wilson--Governor-of-Hong-Kong-1992 — Page 13

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PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR

FCO PERSONAL FOR RICKETTS, FED

YOUR VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES

1. AS YOU WILL KNOW FROM THE PRESS THE PRIME MINISTER WILL NOT BE SEEING CLINTON DURING HIS VISIT TO THE U.S./EC SUMMIT BECAUSE THEY HAVE BOTH AGREED THAT IT WILL BE PREFERABLE FOR THE PRIME MINISTER TO HAVE A SUBSTANTIVE MEETING WITH CLINTON AFTER HE IS INAUGURATED ON 20 JANUARY. THAT IS CLINTON'S STRONG PREFERENCE AND HE WANTS TO GET HIMSELF FULLY BRIEFED AND HAVE AVAILABLE HIS SECRETARY OF STATE, NSC ADVISER ETC. THERE IS NO SUBSTANCE TO SILLY PRESS STORIES ABOUT ILL-FEELINGS ON CLINTON'S PART OVER CITIZENSHIP ENQUIRIES AND CENTRAL OFFICE GIVING HELP TO THE REPUBLICANS. I SAW CLINTON LAST NIGHT AND WE ARE GETTING ON WELL WITH SENIOR MEMBERS OF HIS TEAM.

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THIS DOES MEAN, HOWEVER, THAT THE CHANCES OF GETTING A DEFINITE COMMITMENT FROM CLINTON TO SEE YOU IN FEBRUARY ARE POOR. WHEN THE PRIME MINISTER MEETS CLINTON ALMOST CERTAINLY IN FEBRUARY, HE WILL WANT TO URGE HIM TO SEE YOU AND WE ALSO WILL BE URGING THAT ON HIM. BUT IT IS CLEAR, AS YOU SUPPOSED, THAT A VISIT BY YOU TO WASHINGTON WILL NEED TO COME AFTER FEBRUARY. EARLY MAY WOULD BE POSSIBLE BEFORE YOUR VISITS TO OTHER U.S. CITIES, BUT WE MAY NEED TO BID FOR SOMETHING EARLIER DEPENDING ON DEVELOPMENTS OVER MEN.

RENWICK

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