Mr. Rippon would be grateful to know whether, under these circumstances, the Prime Minister would have any objection to his planning a private visit to Hong Kong. Mr. Rippon would then begin his Ministerial programme in Singapore, as detailed in my letter to Tom Bridges of 22 May.
I am sending copies of this letter to McCormick in the FCO and Robertson in the Cabinet Office.
Yours sincerely
Michael Pakenham
(M.A. Pakenham) Private Secretary
CONFIDENTIAL