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future issues. She foresaw 3 stages: first the settlement of
the unilateral guarantee, second a visit to discuss the future
and demonstrate that we were working closely with Hong Kong,
and third (and separately) negotiations on future arrangements.
9. Sir Murray MacLehose replied that the cosmetic benefits
of a visit would not be substantial. Treasury officials would
be welcome to come but their visit would only be useful if they
came with a specific objective. The difficulty was that the
press and public in Hong Kong would get to know of such a visit
and would ask what topics had been discussed and what results
achieved. He suggested the idea should be discussed with
Mr Haddon-Cave.
10.
Sir Murray MacLehose then left with Mrs Hedley-Miller to
call on Mr Mitchell.
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