(3001) Dd. 145244 400m 8/73 L.Ltd. Gp.839
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Registry No.
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
Top Secret. Secret. Confidential,
Restricted. Unclassified.
PRIVACY MARKING
In Confidence
DRAFT
letter
To:-
Lord Bridges
10 Downing Street
CONFIDENTIAL
Type 1 +
FROM
w/99
Frivate Secretary.
Telephone No. E-1.
Į
Department
THE PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO CHINA AND HONG KONG
We have begun to wonder whether the Irimo Iinister
will, in present circumstances, wish to spend the
whole period from 2 January to 15 January visiting
China and Hong Kong, as is his present plan.
Mr Royle had a conversation with the Chinere
Ambassador this morning. The Ambassador aced.
Mr Royle a number of questions about the Frine
Minister's wishes and intentions, but did not ony
anything to suggest that his Government, or he
himself, had any doubt that the Irime liinister would
wish to stick to his present plans. It is our
strongly-held view, however, that the Chinese ought
to be informed as soon as possible if there is any
question of the Prime Minister now wishing to change ·
these plans.
We very much hope that the Frime Minister will wish
to stick to his present timetable. If, however, he
were to judge that he ought not to be absent from
this country for as long as 13 days, we believe that
he could visit China and Hong Kong for a much shorter
period with almost as much profit. From the point of
view, moreover, of our relations with China, it would
/be
1
CONFIDENTIAL