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CONFIDENTIAL
ROYAL VISITS COMMITTEE
Visit by H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh to
Hong Kong
Notes for Permanent Under-Secretary's Brief
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In September, 1966, the Governor wrote to
Sir Savile Garner suggesting a visit by Her Majesty
The Queen to Hong Kong in October/November 1968, to
open the Plover Cove Water Scheme. The possibility
of a Royal visit to the Colony had been raised on
earlier occasions but it had been thought that such
a visit might provoke an unacceptable Chinese reaction.
This view continued to prevail when the Governor's
suggestion was considered and consequently no bid
was made to the Royal Visits Committee for the
Queen to visit Hong Kong.
2. Hong Kong is now, in terms of population and
economic activity, by far the biggest of our remain-
ing colonial territories.
During the last five
months the Colony has passed through a very testing
period of Communist confrontation which it has
weathered with remarkable resilience.
Throughout
*
that confrontation its people have displayed a
remarkable degree of loyalty to the Governor and of
public support for the administration.
The key
to our ability to continue to hold the situation
there against the persistent efforts of the
Communists, is the maintenance of public confidence
in our intentions towards and support for the
Colony.
The Governor, during recent discussions
with Ministers and officials in London, has urged
CONFIDENTIAL
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