TNAG-2798-FCO40-4038-Hong-Kong-six-monthly-meetings-of-foreign-ministers-1993 — Page 10

CONFIDENTIAL AND PERSONAL

HK) (ow. Michelt)

Sir I call to. I

J.C.

From:

Sir John Coles

Thank you.

No rush

Date:

29 January 1993

CC:

ка

Mr Davies, FED Mr Ricketts, HKD

29/1

Private Secretary Private

POSSIBLE VISIT BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO PEKING

1.

We spoke yesterday.

I have since seen your minute of 28 January to Mr Hum (who is abroad until 8 February) asking whether developments in Hong Kong would have moved on by the Whitsun recess to the point where a visit to Peking made more sense.

2.

My interim reply is that it is very difficult to forecast that now. I see no good reason to think that we shall be nearer to agreement with the Chinese on the constitutional proposals except that more time will have

passed.

3.

But I should prefer to delay a considered reply until Mr Hum has seen the Governor of Hong Kong on

5 February, when the question of the visit to Peking will naturally arise. If you need an earlier reply please let

me know.

John Wole.

Sir John Coles

CONFIDENTIAL AND PERSONAL