GPS 240
PRIORITY
CYPHER CAT/A
CONFIDENTIAL
RF OIVED IN
RG
૨૧.
•,.51 OCT 1973.
131
(FE)
FM FCO 171857Z
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CONFIDENTIAL
TO PRIORITY PEKING TELEGRAM NUMBER 1055 OF 17 OCTOBER 73 INFO ROUTINE GOVERNOR HONG KONG AND BRITISH TRADE COMMISSION
HONG KONG,
YOUR TELNO 1053: PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION TO CHINA,
1.
THIS WAS MOST TIMELY. WE HAD LEARNT TODAY FROM
DAME JOAN VICKERS THAT THE CHINESE HAD GIVEN HER NO DETAILS
OF THE PROPOSED ITINERARY. WE SHALL PASS THE CONTENTS OF
YOUR TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE TO HER AND TELEGRAPH AGAIN.
2. MEANWHILE WE ARE BECOMING SLIGHTLY CONCERNED OVER ONE
POINT. DAME JOAN HAS PREVIOUSLY VISITED CHINA AND KNOWS THE FORM, BUT SHE DETECTS SIGNS THAT OTHER MEMBERS ARE LESS UNDERSTANDING AND THAT THEY MAY ALREADY HAVE CAUSED THE
CHINESE SOME RESENTMENT BY PRESSING, FOR INSTANCE. THE ISSUE
OF THEIR WIVES ACCOMPANYING THEM. WE AND DAME JOAN ARE
CONCERNED TO AVOID ANY REPETITION OF THE UNFORTUNATE INCIDENTS
DURING LAST YEAR'S PARLIAMENTARY VISIT. MR ROYLE AND THE
| DEPARTMENT WILL BRIEF THE DELEGATION FULLY ON 23 OCTOBER BOTH
ON POLITICAL QUESTIONS AND MORE GENERALLY ON CHINESE ETIQUETTE.
THE PARTY IS DINING WITH THE CHINESE AMBASSADOR THAT EVENING.
3. WE ARE SURE THAT THE DELEGATION WILL GRATEFULLY ACCEPT
YOUR INVITATION TO DINNER, BUT WE BELIEVE IT WOULD BE WISE
IF IN ADDITION YOU COULD ARRANGE WITH THE INSTITUTE A SUITABLE.
TIME AT THE BEGINNING OF THE VISIT WHEN YOU COULD BRIEF THE
DELEGATION IN PRIVATE. WE SHALL KEEP YOU INFORMED OF
DEVELOPMENTS HERE.
DOUGLAS-HOME
FILES
FED
HKI OD
IR D
PARLIAMENTARY UNIT
PS/MR ROYLE
MR YOUDE
MR WILFORD
CONFIDENTIAL
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