CONFIDENTIAL
132
Mr. Evans (FED
1.
The Secretary of State's Visit to
Hong Kong
I discussed this with Sir M. MacLehose today. His view is that the inside of a day in Hong Kong is perfectly adequate and the only essential things that the Secretary of State should do
are:-
2.
(a)
(b)
Give a confidential briefing to the senior officials and unofficials of the Hong Kong Executive Council;
Give a press conference.
If the Secretary of State does (b) above, it would seem to argue against his accepting the invitation to lunch with the Hong Kong Press Association after which he would answer questions about his visit to China and other matters.
3.
The outline programme might therefore be as follows:-
Thursday, 2 November:
p.m.
Leave Peking.
Arrive Hong Kong in good time for dinner. (Sir M. MacLehose thought that the flight might take 2- 4 hours depending on whether there had to be a stop at Canton. ) The aim would be to have a quiet evening with the Governor during which the Secretary of State could tell him the outcome of the talks in Peking; and then an early night.
Friday, 3 November:
a.m.
Lunch
p.m.
Meeting with Executive Council
With Governor
Press Conference possibly at airport before departure since the best facilities are apparently there.
4. It is difficult to say what would be the best time to take off in order to make the journey as untiring as possible for the Secretary of State.
I am inclined to think that departure at about 6.00 p.m. might be the right answer, followed by dinner, and a night on the plane (but the stop at Shemya may upset this).
CONFIDENTIAL
Nole
Handed
/If
to HK100 on
20/9/72.
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