CONFIDENTIAL
HKC 026/19
CONFIDENTIAL
FM PEKING
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 1197
OF 260857Z AUGUST 92
AND TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
INFO PRIORITY UKREP JLG HONG KONG
TOP COPY Q DIST?
BAR
(it)
155357 MDLIAN 7546
FCO PERSONAL FOR COX, HKD
HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR POLAD
YOUR TELNO 1269 AND HONG KONG TELNO 2187: VISIT OF SIR EDWARD HEATH
TO PEKING
1. TUR OF 19 AUGUST, MARKED PRIORITY, WAS RECEIVED IN BOTH PEKING AND HONG KONG ON 25 AUGUST.
2. WE AGREE THAT IT WOULD BE WISE NOT TO ASK SIR EDWARD HEATH TO CARRY A SPECIFIC MESSAGE. THE CHINESE OBVIOUSLY ATTACH GREAT IMPORTANCE TO MR PATTEN'S OWN VISIT, NOW AGREED FOR 12-14 OCTOBER CHONG KONG TELNO 2185). IT WOULD BE A PITY TO RISK DILUTING THE IMPACT OF THE GOVERNOR'S CONVERSATIONS WITH LU PING AND OTHERS BY PROVIDING TOO MUCH OF A TRAILER. THERE IS ALSO, WITH RESPECT, THE QUESTION OF SIR EDWARD HEATH'S OWN VIEWS. HE HAS ON OCCASION EXPRESSED SOME UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHINESE POSITION ON TIBET: AND DURING A VISIT TO PEKING IN NOVEMBER 1991 HE MENTIONED TO OFFICIALS FROM A CHINESE FRIENDSHIP ASSOCIATION HIS DOUBTS ABOUT THE WISDOM OF ANY ARMED INTERVENTION IN THE GULF, AT A TIME WHEN BRITISH POLICY WAS CLEARLY HEADING IN THAT DIRECTION. THERE IS ALSO THE DANGER THAT THE CHINESE WOULD USE A MESSAGE ON CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES TO DRAW SIR EDWARD HEATH INTO A DETAILED AND UNHELPFUL
DISCUSSION.
3. WE THEREFORE AGREE WITH THE THOUGHT THAT HE SHOULD EMPHASISE TO THE CHINESE THE PERSONAL QUALITIES OF THE GOVERNOR AND THE IMPORTANCE OF DEVELOPING A PRODUCTIVE DIALOGUE WITH HIM.
4.
IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE DETAILS OF SIR E HEATH'S TRAVEL PLANS. AT PRESENT I AM SIMPLY AWARE THAT HE IS LIKELY TO TAKE PART IN A LUNCH TO MARK A MEETING OF KLEINWORT BENSON'S CHINA FUND IN PEKING ON 26 SEPTEMBER AND ATTEND THE OPENING OF A ROTHMANS PLANT AT JINAN (INVOLVING, WE UNDERSTAND, A SPECIALLY CHARTERED FLIGHT FROM PEKING AND AN OVERNIGHT STAY) ON TUESDAY 29 SEPTEMBER.
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