IMMEDIATE
CYPHER/CAT A
RECEIVED IN
T
REGISTRY No. ET
CONFIDENTIAL
14 JAN
F C O 121745Z
(HKD)
4x122/
(OP CUP)
CONFIDENTIAL
LAST
TO IMMEDIATE GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELNO 35 OF 12 JANUARY
MY TELEGRAM NO 972
REF.
3
NEXT
PERSONAL FROM MR RGYLE
REF.
کام
1. AFTER A DISCUSSION WITH THE CHIEF WHIP TODAY I HAVE RELUCTANTLY
COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT I CANNOT VISIT HONG KONG TO OPEN THE UNIVERSITY SCIENCE CENTRE IN APRIL. THE PROPOSED DATE IS IN PARLIAMENTARY TIME AND WITH THE EUROPEAN LEGISLATION GOING THROUGH
I MIGHT HAVE TO CANCEL AT THE LAST MINUTE WHICH COULD CAUSE GREAT
INCONVENIENCE AT YOUR END. ANY OTHER COMMONS MINISTER WOULD FACE
SIMILAR DIFFICULTIES,
2. I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS INFORMALLY WITH SIR Y.K. KAN AND HE AGREES
WITH ME THAT IN THE ABSENCE OF AN FCO COMMONS MINISTER AN EDUCATION-
ALIST MIGHT BE THE BEST ALTERNATIVE. I WOULD BE QUITE PREPARED TO APPROACH LORD BUTLER, OR LORD BOYLE ON YOUR BEHALF CR, IF YOU WANTED A GOVERNMENT MINISTER, LORD BELSTEAD FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE.
3. 1 HOPE IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE TO MAKE MY VISIT TO HONG KONG IN
THE AUTUMN WHEN PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS HAS LESSENED. I WILL BE IN
TOUCH WITH YOU LATER ABOUT THIS.
4. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR URGENT VIEWS.
DOUGLAS HOME
FILES
HKD
SAD
PS
SIR L MONSON
MR WILFORD
HD OF PROT & CONF D
CONFIDENTIAL