CONFIDENTIAL
'A'
VISITS TO HONG KONG
DUKE & DUCHESS OF KENT
1. The Duke and Duchess of Kent will be going to Japan for
the official opening on 21 September of the British Export
Marketing Centre in Tokyo. They will be passing through Hong
Kong briefly in transit on their return from Tokyo to the
United Kingdom on 26 September. Their Royal Highnesses' private
secretary has discussed arrangements with the Chief of Protocol
in Hong Kong.
MR ROYLE
2. Mr Royle will wish to express his personal regrets to the
Governor that he has had to cancel his visit for the time being,
in view of parliamentary business. We have already informed the
Governor by telephone and have sent a telegram to Hong Kong.
PRIME MINISTER
3. Mr Heath is likely to pay a short visit to Hong Kong on his
return from his official visit to China. The time proposed for
this visit is the first two weeks in January, but the exact dates
await confirmation by the Chinese Government. Lord Bridges at
No 10 will be speaking to the Governor about the arrangements for
the Prime Minister's visit to Hong Kong.
ROYAL VISIT
4. We may receive the formal invitation from the Japanese
Government during the forthcoming visit by the Japanese Prime
Minister and the State visit to Japan (using Her Majesty's yacht Britannia) could well take place in the second half of May 1975.
If such a visit is arranged, it would of course only seem sensible
for a call at Hong Kong to be arranged.
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CONFIDENTIAL