GPS 499
AIORITY
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FM FCC 211735Z
CONFIDENTIAL
на Інктов
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LAST
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ASAT
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CONFIDENTIAL
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG TELMO 140 OF 21 FEBRUARY 1975.
YOUR TELNO 164: YOUR VISIT
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM WATSON
1.
How
све
Zorana velly
Інк
H K L F CO
N..171)
DM
WE HAVE DISCUSSED THE SITUATION WITH HERRIES AND KIDD. I THINK HERRIES WOULD APPRECIATE REPLY TO OUR TELNO 126, HIS MAIN WORRY IS LEST, DESPITE HIS SEST EFFORTS, THE VISIT MAY NOT BE A SUBSTANTIAL SUCCESS AND MAY EVEN BE CRITICISED HERE. HE THINKS THAT IF YOU ARE FORMALLY HOST, IT COULD HARM YOUR POSITION IN HONG KONG, HENCE HIS SUGGESTION THAT Y K KAN SHOULD HOST AT LEAST THE FASHION SHOW
RECEPTION.
2. IN THE CURRENT RECESSION IN UK THERE MAY BE SOMETHING IN HIS FEARS, BUT IT APPEARS FROM TDC TELEX OF 19 FEBRUARY THAT THE DECISION HAS ALREADY BEEN TAKEN, AND I DO NOT THINK THE DANGERS ARE GREAT ENOUGH TO WARRANT REVERSAL.
3. A SEPARATE QUESTION IS HOW FAR THE PRESENT PLANS WILL FURTHER YOUR AIM OF HELPING TO PUT THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON HONG KONG AND PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE QUEEN'S VISIT. THIS IS OF COURSE VERY MUCH IN OUR INTEREST. I FEAR HOWEVER THAT THE DENIAL OF PRINCESS ALEXANDRA AT THE FASHION SHOW, AND THE DOUBTS ABOUT AN ON-THE-RECORD PRESS CONFERENCE DO NOT MAKE THIS EASIER.
4. I WONDER TENTATIVELY WHETHER, PROVIDED ROOM CAN BE MADE IN YOUR PROGRAMME, BOTH THE POLITICAL AND TRADING PURPOSES OF YOUR VISIT MIGHT DE HELPED BY ADDING AN EVENT OF A RATHER DIFFERENT KIND, THIS MIGHT BE A VERY SELECT DINNER FOR ABOUT THREE DOZEN, WITH THE THEME OF THE TRADING AND POLITICAL INTER-DEPENDENCE OF BRIATAIN AND HONG KONG IN THE RUN-UP TO THE QUEEN'S VISIT. WE ARE REASONABLY CONFIDENT THAT PRINCESS ALEXANDRA WOULD ATTEND SUCH A DINNER IF IT CAN BE FITTED IN HER PROGRAMME. SHE IS VERY ANXIOUS TO HELP. WE THINK LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS WOULD ALSO BE WILLING, THE OTHER GUESTS MIGHT BE
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