Hong Kong Department Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London S.W.1
24 October, 1969
Many thanks for your letter of 21 October about your coming up to London next month.
2. On the assumption that you can get up here on the evening of 23 November we have planned the attached programme. You will note that the engagements marked with an asterisk are proposals for which no definite arrangements have been made and we would like to have your views. For the rest we have had to go more or less firm but no doubt if necessary we can make some adjustment.
Office Meetings
3.
Matters which we have it in mind to raise in office meetings are set out in a separate attachment behind the programme divided into "domestic" and "external" items, The list is not exhaustive at this stage. The whole of Monday and part of Tuesday morning has been set aside for "domestic" items. We have it in mind to take Items Nos. 1, 3-5 at 10.30 a.m. on Monday, 24 November (there will almost certainly be others by the time we meet, plus any domestic matters you wish to raise); and to devote the whole of that afternoon to Item 2, Conduct of Commercial Relations. I have allowed time on the morning of Tuesday, 25 November for an overspill meeting on domestic items since it seems to me that among other things we may need more time to consider what line to take in any meeting with the Board of Trade about the Conduct of Commercial Relations. I do not think there is any doubt that we shall need a meeting with the Board of Trade on this subject (Bill Hughes is expecting one to be held following his discussions with you in Hong Kong) and propose to arrange this for 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 26 November.
4. Perhaps you would let me know of any matters you wish to raise at these meetings?
Ministerial Meetings
5.
In Lord Shepherd's absence I have reserved 3 p.m. on Wednesday, 26 November for a session with the Minister who may, I understand, be pretty busy because the Brunei talks are likely to extend into that week. The session will in any case be cut short by the appointment with the Secretary of State at 4 p.m. If Lord Shepherd considers the time allowed to be inadequate would you find it convenient to have a second session with him, if necessary, when you come up to London before your departure?
LAST
Sir David Trench, GCMG., MC.
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