CPS
17.5
PRIORIT
CYPHER/CAT A
FM HONG KONG 131040 2 CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
Ja
TO PRIORITY FCO TELNO 1132 OF 13 NOVEMBER.
FOR LORD GORONWY ROBERTS FROM GOVERNOR.
M. I. P. T.
1914
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No.52
14NOV 1974
NICK 3/548/3
WHEN I RECEIVED YOUR TELEGRAM WITH THE WELCOME NEWS OF YOUR
FORTHCOMING VISIT TO HONG KONG I HAD BEEN ABOUT TO SUGGEST THAT
1 SHOULD RETURN FOR A FEW DAYS CONSULTATIONS IN DECEMBER. THIS
WAS BECAUSE ON GENERAL GROUNDS I THOUGHT IT WAS TIME THAT WE MET
AGAIN, AND ALSO WITH THE OBJECT OF DISCUSSING SPECIFICALLY: (A) DEFENCE COSTS AGREEMENT
(B) EFFECTS OF THE RECESSION ON HONG KONG AND IMPLICATIONS FOR THE BUDGET AND SOCIAL PROGRAMMES
(C) LABOUR LEGISLATION AND HMG'S ATTITUDE TO IT.
D) POSSIBILITY OF CONSTITUTION CHANGE.
2. ON REFLECTION I THINK THERE WOULD STILL BE ADVANTAGE IN SUCH
A VISIT. SO MUCH OF YOUR TIME HERE WILL BE TAKEN UP WITH SEEING
THINGS AND MEETING PEOPLE AND DISCUSSING YOUR IMPRESSIONS WITH US,
THAT THERE IS NOT LIKELY TO BE MUCH TIME FOR SATISFACTORY
COVERAGE OF THE ABOVE SORT OF SUBJECTS, AND THEY ARE ALL OF
IMPORTANCE FOR THE LINE YOU TAKE DURING THE VISIT.
3. IT ALSO OCCURS TO ME THAT IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL IF BEFORE YOUR
VISIT WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING EACH OTHER UP-TO-DATE ON HOW
WE NOW SEE THINGS.
4. I ALSO REMEMBER YOUR WISH TO SHOW RESULTS FROM ANY VISIT.
ADVANCE DISCUSSION SHOULD ASSIST THIS.
5. I WOULD TRY AND DEAL WITH OFFICIALS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, BUT
SUCH A VISIT WOULD MAKE SOME DEMANDS ON YOUR TIME SO I PROPOSE
!T WITH SOME RELUCTANCE. I WOULD OF COURSE SUIT YOUR
CONVENIENCE, BUT THE DATES MOST SUITABLE FOR ME WOULD BE DECEMBER
17-20.
te
:
38
MACLE HOS E
FILES
HKIOD (4) MR WILFORD
PC D
MR.MALE
PS/LORD GORONWY - ROBERTS
Private office h Da D.
replyży
CONFIDENTIAL
PA BD 15/11