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CONFIDENTIAL
TO ROUTINE FCO TELNO 509 OF 12 JUNE.
FOLLOWING PERSONAL FOR LAIRD.
YOUR TELNO 451: MR RIPPON.
R.C.
13 JUN 1972
51
NJKK
APART FROM SUGGESTION IN M.1.F.T. MR RIPPON IS OF COURSE VERY
WELCOME TO PAY A PRIVATE VISIT, AND IF I CAN DO ANYTHING TO MAKE IT AGREEABLE I HOPE HE WILL LET ME KNOW.
2. BUT I THINK TO ATTEMPT TO HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO DEALINGS WITH THE
PRESS WOULD BE CONTRA-PRODUCTIVE AND ONLY LEAD TO RIPPON-WATCHING
OR A STORY OF A HUSH-HUSH VISIT.
3. IT WOULD BE QUITE SUFFICIENT IF HE SAW THE PRESS AT THE AIRPORT
ON ARRIVAL, GAVE THEM SOME COPY ABOUT WHY HE WAS IN THE FAR EAST ON INDEED ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE, AND THEN EXPLAINED THAT HIS VISIT
TO HONG KONG WAS PRIVATE AND TO HAVE A HOLIDAY SO HE HOPED
THEY WOULD UNDERSTAND IF HE DID NOT SEE THEM AGAIN. THIS WOULD
BE PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE AND NEED NOT TAKE MORE THAN 13 MINUTES.
4. I TAKE IT NO PRIVATE SECRETARY?
MACLEHOSE
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HKIOD
FS/CDL
MR WILFORD
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