TNAG-2623-FCO40-3814-Visits-by-Alastair-Goodlad--Minister-of-State-for-Foreign-an-1992 — Page 3

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INFO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG, BTC HONG KONG INFO IMMEDIATE MANILA

PERSONAL FOR PS/GH FROM RICKETTS, HKD

POSSIBLE STOPOVER BY MR GOODLAD ON 31 OCTOBER

1.

AS I MENTIONED ON THE TELEPHONE, MR GOODLAD IS GOING AT SHORT NOTICE TO MANILA THIS WEEK FOR THE EC/ASEAN MINISTERIAL MEETING.

2. HIS RETURN JOURNEY PLANS ARE NOT YET FIRM. THEY WILL DEPEND ON WHEN THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS ABLE TO GET TO MANILA.

BUT IT IS POSSIBLE THAT MR GOODLAD WILL HAVE TO REMAIN IN MANILA UNTIL 31 OCTOBER. AT THAT POINT, HIS SIMPLEST RETURN TO THE UK WOULD BE VIA HONG KONG.

3. MR GOODLAD WOULD OBVIOUSLY WELCOME A QUIET TALK WITH THE GOVERNOR, AND YOU MENTIONED THAT THE GOVERNOR WOULD BE RETURNING FROM MACAO IN THE EARLY EVENING. IF IT WAS POSSIBLE TO HAVE A QUIET DINNER WITH THE GOVERNOR AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE, I AM SURE THAT MR GOODLAD WOULD WELCOME THAT.

THE TWO OPTIONS FOR MR GOODLAD'S ARRIVAL IN HONG KONG FROM MANILA ARE AT 0920 (CATHAY PACIFIC) OR 1900 (SWISS AIR). MR GOODLAD WOULD THEN LEAVE ON THE EVENING BA PLANE TO LONDON.

5.

THE MINISTER IS KEEN NOT TO PUT PEOPLE TO ANY TROUBLE. BUT IF HE ARRIVED ON THE EARLIER FLIGHT, WHICH AT PRESENT SEEMS THE MOST LIKELY OPTION, HE WOULD LIKE TO SPEND THE DAY QUIETLY

AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

6.

WE DISCUSSED WHETHER OR NOT SUCH A VISIT WOULD BE ANNOUNCED. YOU THOUGHT THAT ONE POSSIBILITY WOULD BE TO MAKE NO ADVANCE ANNOUNCEMENT, BUT BE PREPARED TO CONFIRM IF ASKED BY THE PRESS THAT MR GOODLAD HAD STOPPED OVER ON HIS WAY HOME FROM MANILA, AND HAD TAKEN THE CHANCE FOR A TALK WITH THE GOVERNOR. WE WOULD BE HAPPY WITH THIS. THE MAIN THING WOULD BE TO AVOID

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