TNAG-2798-FCO40-4038-Hong-Kong-six-monthly-meetings-of-foreign-ministers-1993 — Page 83

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FM FCO

TO PRIORITY HONG KONG

TELNO 281

OF 241603Z MARCH 93

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6 monthly meeting

INFO PRIORITY PEKING, BTC HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

FCO Telno 178 to Peking: Secretary of State's visit to the Far East: Press annoucement

1. We said in para 3. of TUR that we would clear with you a line to take with the press on why Hong Kong does not feature on the itinerary this time. We suggest the following:

The Secretary of State will not be visiting Hong Kong on this occasion. He visited the Territory in July last year and had a meeting with the Governor when Mr Patten came to London Last November. He will be seeing Mr Patten in London later in April. Mr Patten will in any case be in London when the Secretary of State is in the Far East.

Secretary of State distancing himself from Governor/giving Lower priority to Hong Kong?

- Not at all. The Secretary of State keeps in close touch with the Governor and sees him whenever opportunities present. He will be seeing him in London later in April. He fully supports the Governor's policies.

2. The announcement of the dates of the visit is planned for the middle of next week.

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HKCC 021/1

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DESK O INDEX

1 AM 1993

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