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Mr Lovelock (ES&SD)
HONG KONG: POSSIBLE MEETING BETWEEN THE FCO AND THE ROYAL SOCIETY
1. Please refer to your minute of 5 September to Mr Hull, CRD.
2. I do not think that we would wish to raise again with the Royal Society the question of HM and the Hong Kong Governments' policy on the matter of Soviet research vessels. The Head of this department has already gone over very thoroughly (in two exchanges of letters and two telephone calls) with Drs Stoker and Keay, all the ground that can be exposed to them. However, it is more than likely that the Royal Society will wish to raise the matter with us. We have after all left them with a policy which they may find difficult to defend to their own Fellows and of which the latter may prove uneasy and weak exponents when challenged by their Soviet colleagues. a policy which, in view of the Soviet proposal that the "Dimitriy Mendeleev" visit Hong Kong at the end of October and in view of our intention to refuse permission for this visit, may prove topical at the time of Mr Burrows' lunch with Dr Keay or the Secretary of State's meeting with ?Dr Stoker. I think therefore your department should go armed with defensive briefing on this subject.
It is
9 September 1977
T J David
Hong Kong & General Department K 245
233 4777
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