BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION
P.O. Box 1812, WELLINGTON, New Zealand Telex: NZ 3325 Telegraphic address: UKREP Telephone: 46-060
RM Evans Esq
Far Eastern Department King Charles Street London SW1
1.
Dear Richard,
30 January 1973
Mi sinar.
25/3/5
May we please talk this one ove: ?
R.M. Evans
9 February, 1973.
Either you or Andrew Stuart has, I know, been in touch with the Governor about visits of Ministers to Hong Kong and in particular the DTI Ministers who are attending the B.I.T.E. in Peking in March. The Governor said that so far as he is concerned he attaches importance to such people visiting Hong Kong if it is possible on their way into China. I am not sure that this is not a change on his part. He used to think that if they came to Hong Kong on their way out they could reassure Hong Kong public opinion that they had not got up to any mischief in China to the disadvantage of Hong Kong. His argument now seems to be that he prefers them to see, and be seen in Hong Kong, before they have got "starry eyed" about China! You may wish to bear this in mind in organising Mr Walker's and Mr Heseltin's trips.
Yours ever,
Mind hilfr
K M Wilford