CONFIDENTIAL
Mr Laird
Mr Grattan
En 24x1
35
SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO THE FAR EAST
1.
A reply is required to the attached telegram from the Governor, Hong Kong.
ا روحي
2. Protocol & Conference Department have informed me that the Secretary of State will be spending the nights of 10, 11 and 12 February in Bangkok. But during that period he will be in attendance on the Queen during her State visit and will accordingly have to undertake a fairly heavy programme of functions.
3. According to the attached possible flight schedules, which have been prepared by Protocol & Conference Department, the Secretary of State will probably leave Bangkok at 12.30 on 13 February (local time) and arrive at Hong Kong at 1600 (local time) the same day. There is a difference of approximately one hour between Bangkok and Hong Kong times and since the journey will be in an easterly direction the time that it will actually occupy will be approximately 24 hours.
4. I have had a preliminary word with Mr Grattan who feels that in view of the above factors, the Secretary of State would prefer not to have too heavy a programme arranged for him in Hong Kong for the evening of 13 February.
5.
I undertook to prepare a reply to the attached telegram for Mr Grattan to see and a draft is accordingly attached.
A
GB
26 November 1971
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A W Gaminara
Hong Kong Department
Tel to Htung King to come
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CONFIDENTIAL