CYPHER CAT/A ROUTINE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 55
TOP
CONFIDENTIAL
TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
24 JANUARY 1970
CONFIDENTIAL.
ADDRESSED FCO TELEGRAM 55 OF 24 JANUARY RFI PEKING.
YOUR TELEGRAM 41.
PERSONAL FROM GOVERNOR.
POSSIBLE VISIT TO HONG KONG.
VERY PLEASED TO HEAR THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO VISIT HONG KONG, DATES PROPOSED PRESENT NO DIFFICULTY.
AND
2. IT IS VERY UNLIKELY THAT ANY TROUBLE WOULD BE CAUSED HERE AS A RESULT OF THE VISIT, SO LONG AS GENERAL SITUATION REMAINS AS AT PRESENT. THERE WOULD BE SPECULATION ON PURPOSES OF VISIT IN LOCAL COMMUNIST CIRCLES, BUT THIS IS INEVITABLE AND CAN BE TOLERATED. 3. A QUIET WEEK-END CAN EASILY BE ARRANGED, AND OFFICIAL BUSINESS RESTRICTED TO MEETING UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF EXECUTIVE COUNCILS, ALTHOUGH THEY WOULD PROBABLY LIKE A HALF-HOUR OR SO OF GENERAL DISCUSSION AS WELL AS ANY LUNCH ENGAGEMENT. HOWEVER, IT WOULD THINK BE HELPFUL TO YOU IF I ARRANGED A GENERAL DISCUSSION WITH CBF AND A FEW MORE SENIOR OFFICIALS AS WELL ON THE MONDAY. WOULD THIS
BE ACCEPTABLE?
1
4. IF WE ARE TO ENSURE LIMITATION OF OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENTS, IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO REPRESENT THE VISIT PUBLICLY AS PRIMARILY A REST STOP RATHER THAN A FORMAL VISIT. SUBJECT TO PEKING'S VIEWS, THIS MIGHT ALSO ASSIST THE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES.
150
RECEIVED IN
REGISTRY No. 51
26 JAN 1970
HKK 22 14
CONFIDENTIAL
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