Our reference: N/F1/467/75 Your references

D G Millar Esq House of Commons Westminster

LONDON SW1

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE Main Building, Whitehall, LONDON SWIA 2HB Telephone: gzquzzya 218-3016

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY 5.62

28 JUL 1975

Pun3/2/7

RECEIVED 1.. REGISTRY NO. ET

- SAUG1975

2/148/9 покра

28 July 1975

63

H/c AUS(Cr)

ANS (CD) AUSOL SEU

Head of D86

Dear Douglas,

DEFENCE AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS SUB COMMITTEE VISIT TO HONG KONG AND CYPRUS

1.

You mentioned that the Sub Committee were anxious to have some idea before the recess of the likely scope of its proposed visit to Hong Kong and Cyprus in November. In Victor Benham's absence on leave, I have now received from our people in Horg Kong a tentative outline programme (copy attached) which you may care to show to the Sub Committee.

First,

2. I should however make two points about the programme. it may not be appropriate for the whole party to make a formal visit to Macau, although it should be possible to arrange a visit for some individuals as ordinary tourists should members of the Sub Committee wish. This may however mean that part of the programme would be forfeited. Secondly, you will see that no social events have at this stage been included in the programme. There will of course be suitable functions arranged to fit in with the detailed programme when it is drawn up.

3. I should be grateful for the comments or approval of the Sub Committee as soon as possible so that detailed planning may proceed on this basis.

4. I can now tell you that the proposal to visit Cyprus on the return leg has been cleared in principle with the Commander British Forces Near East and I understand that the British High Cormission is also content that the visit should go ahead. Bearing in mind. the wishes of the Sub Committee as expressed in your letter of 23 July, we shall be drawing up a similar outline programme for the Cyprus visit, but any further guidance you can give on particular items the Sub Committee would wish to see or hear would be useful. May we assume for planning purposes that the Sub Committee would wish to return to the UK on 26 November?

Head & DS !!

*

FI(N)

Head of

Flold Sloman Exc, }

Yours

Tony Boardum

(AM BOARDMAN)

F1(N)

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