CONFIDENTIAL
OUTWARD TELEGRAM
FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
(The Secretary of State)
TO HONG KONG (0.A.G. :)
114B 22/27
Cypher
Sent 11th August, 1967. 2200Z
IMMEDIATE
CONFIDENTIAL
No. 1659
Personal for Gass from Minister of State,
Lord Shepherd.
In Hall's letter of 8 August it was tentatively suggested that I might visit Hong Kong in mid-October.
I am, however, wondering whether an earlier visit might be helpful especially from the point of view of morale in Hong Kong.
As you will appreciate I have recently assumed responsibility for Hong Kong as well as the other dependent territories, and I am naturally following developments there with interest. If it would help I would see if arrangements could be made for me to pay you a visit in, say, a week's time in order to see the problems on the spot and to meet the officers (e.g. police) engaged in current operations.
3.
Such a visit could be wrapped up presentationally so that it would appear I was visiting Hong Kong as part of a general visit to the Far East. For example, I could visit Singapore en route
to Hong Kong.
4.
Grateful for your assessment as to whether a visit in about a week's time would be helpful or whether visit in October as proposed in Hall's letter would be better.
With every best wish, Malcolm Shepherd.
Distribution H.K. WID *C*.
I.G.D.
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CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No. 63 14 AUG1967