TNAG-2624-FCO40-3815-Visit-by-Douglas-Hurd--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Co-1992 — Page 72

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024132

MDHOAN 7447

TOP COPY O DIST ?

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO DESKBY 16010OZ HONG KONG

TELNO 1097

OF 151645Z JULY 92

INFO PRIORITY UKREP JLG HONG KONG, BTC HONG KONG

par.

دادوس

PERSONAL FOR PS/GH FROM RICKETTS, HKD

SECRETARY OF STATE'S TRANSIT THROUGH HONG KONG ON 23 JULY

1.

AS THE PROGRAMME STANDS AT PRESENT, THE SECRETARY OF STATE PLANS TO ARRIVE IN HONG KONG ON BA27 AT 1730 ON 23 JULY, AND TO CONTINUE IMMEDIATELY ON A CHARTERED AIRCRAFT, LEAVING AT 1815, FOR MANILA.

2. THE REASON FOR THE HASTE WAS THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE WAS DUE TO BE IN MANILA IN TIME FOR DINNER. I NOW UNDERSTAND THAT THE DINNER HAS BEEN CANCELLED. IT WOULD THEREFORE BE POSSIBLE TO PUT BACK THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S DEPARTURE FROM HONG KONG FOR MANILA BY AN HOUR OR SO, TO ALLOW THE GOVERNOR TO TALK TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE AT THE AIRPORT, IF THE GOVERNOR HAD ANY PRESSING BUSINESS WHICH COULD NOT WAIT UNTIL THEY MEET ON 26 JULY. PRIVATE OFFICE EMPHASISE THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE DOES NOT WISH TO INCONVENIENCE THE GOVERNOR AND DOES NOT EXPECT HIM TO GO OUT THE AIRPORT AS A FORMALITY. BUT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A

TALK AT THE AIRPORT IS THERE IF THE

GOVERNOR WISHED TO TAKE IT UP.

3.

GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD LET ME KNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WHETHER THE GOVERNOR WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE ON THAT OCCASION. IF SO, WE WILL PUT BACK THE DEPARTURE TIME ACCORDINGLY. OTHERWISE, WE WILL LEAVE ARRANGEMENTS AS THEY ARE.

HURD

HKD 026/14

1730 1997

YYYY

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