The 970' might well be an irrelevant lower altitude in the FO's mind to simply prevent ALT CAPTURE when cleared the visual approach. That said I wouldn't be doing that when cleared a visual approach at night in mist... And certainly not outside the circling area. I must feel for these long haul guys when given their STAR... To think a RWY such as RWY34 has no ILS and the amount it's actually used is VERY third world.