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Hong Kong Department,
30 October, 1970.
I am enclosing a copy of the reply from Hong Kong to your telegram about the dates for your handover to Murray MacLehose. The line proposed in paragraph 3 seems satisfactory.
I gather that you will be back here again on 23 November for the talks on the EEC negotiations which we are planning, and, subject to your views, I suggest that any reply to the Hong Kong telegram No.755 can wait until then.
(E. C. Laird)
Sir D. Trench, GCMG, MC,
Barwood,
Milldown Road,
Blandford Forum,
Dorset.