PS to PUS
us gre. зда
Private Secretary
cc Mr Larmour
24)
ти
сукитай
CONFIDENTIAL
HONG KONG: BRIEFING FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT
1.
I think that the wires have become a little crossed on the
proposal that the Governor of Hong Kong should return home for
consultations prior to the Secretary of State's visit to the Far East next spring.
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The PUS's advice, in his minute of 3 December, that the
Governor should return was endorsed by Lord Goronwy-Roberts. Unfortunately, Mr Galsworthy's minute of 9 December recording Lord Goronwy-Roberts's views does not seem to have been available in the
Private Office when the Secretary of State considered the PUS's minute
and took the view that while Mr Youde should return it would not be
justifiable for the Governor and Mr Wilford to do so. (Mr Fergusson's minute of 10 December.)
3. The Governor, who initially had reservations about paying
another visit to the UK within 3 or 4 months, told Sir Duncan Watson on 8 December that, subject to review nearer the time (and to lørd Goronwy-Roberts's agreement) he accepted the PUS's proposal. I still think that there would be advantage in the Governor returning prior to the Secretary of State's visit and that a visit by him
at that time could be explained without creating undue speculation
about a possible change in HMG's policy towards Hong Kong.
It may, however, be better now to leave the question open until the Governor has sent us the "Whither Hong Kong?" type despatch which the PUS
has asked him to produce on his return to Hong Kong next month.
If it were to be finally decided that the Governor should not return
home for consultations, I think we should have the benefit of first- hand advice from Mr Donald, the Governor's Political Adviser, who
/ should
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CONFIDENTIAL