PRIORITY
CYPHER/CAT A
CONFIDENTIAL
LAST
RGISTRY No. 51
REF.
97
87).
89
20DEC197!
NEAT
FM HONG KONG 170335Z
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CONFIDENTIAL
|HKK 22/7
TOP COPY
TO PRIORITY FCO TELNO 937 OF 17TH DECEMBER 1971.
FOR PRIVATE SECRETARY.
YOUR TELEGRAM NUMBER 896: SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO HONG KONG 13 - 15 FEBRUARY.
(A)
(B)
2.
THERE ARE TWO MAIN CONSIDERATIONS:
FEBRUARY 14 IS THE EVE OF THE CHINESE NEW YEAR. IT
HAS HERE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CHRISTMAS AND HOGMONAY ROLLED
INTO ONE, AND THE CHINESE COMMUNITY WILL BE IN THE THROES
BY THE EARLY EVENING. FEBRUARY 15, IS A PUBLIC HOLIDAY. CONFIDENCE IN THE UK IS AT A REGRETTABLY LOW EBB. I HOPE THEREFORE THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL AGREE TO MAKE ONE
MAJOR SPEECH ON THE POSITION OF THE UK IN THE WORLD AND ON H.M.C.'S ATTITUDE TO HONG KONG (LETTER FOLLOWS) FOR WHICH WE WILL ENSURE MAXIMUM TELEVISION AND PRESS COVERAGE,
PROGRAMME PROPOSED:
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 13
(1) 1600 ARRIVE AIRPORT, PRESS CONFERENCE.
(11) 1700 ARRIVE GOVERNMENT HOUSE
(111) 2323 DINNER
The
ABOUT 2 IN ALL (PRINCIPAL CHINESE AND BRITISH)
MONDAY FEBRUARY 14
(IV)
100% HELICOPTER TOUR
(V)
1115 A PRIVATE MEETING WITH UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS (1 HOUR),
(VI)
I
LUNCH AT CITY HALL (FOR 150): S, OF S. TO SPEAK. (VII) 1530 TOUR OF SOME ASPECT OF HONG KONG - SUGGEST HOUSING. (VIII)1800 PERHAPS 15 MINUTES AT NEW YEAR FAIR (COLOURFUL CHAOS) (1X) SMALL DINNER
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 15
(X)
1130 LEAVE FOR AIRPORT
(XI)
SHORT PRESS CONFERENCE
(XT) 123 TAKE OFF FOR SEOUL.
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13.
IF S. OF S.
CONFIDENT! AL