TNAG-2624-FCO40-3815-Visit-by-Douglas-Hurd--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Co-1992 — Page 115

CONFIDENTIAL

*

(20)

HKD 026/14.

RECE

27 JUL 19

INDEA

"Поштове

PS/Mr Goodlad

MR Gordlad has seen + agrees

7

Private Secretary Ay 387

FROM: C O Hum

DATE: 2 July 1992

CC:

PS/Mr Patten

Mr Masefield o.a. Mr Hewitt, SEAD Mr Ricketts, HKD Mr Cornish, News

Dept Miss Howley,

Protocol Dept

Cas

has seen,

SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO SOUTH EAST ASIA AND HONG KONG, JULY 1992

Лиша

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shois

!

1. I attach submissions from Mr Hewitt (SEAD) and Mr Ricketts (HKD) dealing respectively with the proposed visit by the Secretary of State to South East Asia and to Hong Kong later in the month. They need to be considered in conjunction, because of a problem of timing described below.

Hong Kong

2. I agree with Mr Ricketts' recommendation, which reflects a discussion with Mr Patten in which I took part. Three points need particular mention:

i) Dinner on Sunday 26 July. I discussed this briefly with the Private Secretary. What we propose reflects Mr Patten's view that the best way of using this slot in the programme would be for an unhurried and reflective discussion, involving the members of what he sees as his team of closest advisers as well as the London party, on his impressions of his first weeks in Hong Kong and the options on the key constitutional issues;

ii) departure from Hong Kong. I have to state an interest in this matter, but I hope the Secretary of State can agree to remain in Hong Kong long enough on 28 July to have an early meeting with ExCo. I think this would be far more satisfactory than a discussion over dinner the previous evening, and would reflect ExCo's view of the proper degree of formality for the Secretary of State's consultations with them;

I

iii) accompanying officials (para 7 of Mr Ricketts' minute). discussed this point too with the Private Secretary. I would propose, if the Secretary of State is content, to link up with the party in Hong Kong. Mr Masefield, to whom I have spoken, would then pick up the party again for onward travel to Malaysia on 28 July.

CONFIDENTIAL