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COVERING CONFIDENTIAL
Storgat ofti to
Mr Stewart
HONG KONG:
Reference......
issue
tees
VISIT BY DELEGATION FROM HLUNG YEE KUK
1. Mr Jones told me on 11 March that Lord Goronwy-Roberts would be ready to meet the delegation from the Heung Yee Kuk which will be visiting this country next month. Now that the dates for the visit have been clarified (Hong Kong telegram no. 276 of 15 March), I think that the way is clear to try to fix a definite appointment with the Minister of State. I attach a draft submission for this purpose.
2. Prompted by the reference in Hong Kong's earlier telegram no. 254 of 10 March to previous delegations from the Heung Yee Kuk having been seen by Ministers, I have been looking at the papers connected with the last visit in 1973. I note that on that occasion arrangements were made by IAD for the delegation, which was 36-strong, to visit public housing, schools, hospitals etc for a caple of days (Mr Crowson's submission at folio 5 on HKK 3/548/9). When we discussed Hong Kong's suggestion for a "short pre-arranged tour" this time, I voiced reservations. It did not seem to me that the UK was likely to gain any advantage from making special arrangements of this sort, quite apart from the fact that a tour would not, in my view, keep the delegation out of Mr Parry's hands. It is clear, however, that Hong Kong attached some importance to a programme being laid on for the delegation: they have reverted to the idea in their latest telegram, and I can see that if the visit is to last for ten days something will have to be done to keep the delegation occupied. This point does not need to be covered in the submission but if, as seems likely, Mr Kidd brings it up again, I would not now wish to oppose it. It would remain to be seen whether IAD, through the COI, could arrange a tour, but I think that we in the department should give our support to the sugges- tion.
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Diuent 3.
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I also see from the 1973 papers that the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Mr (now Sir) Anthony Royle MP, who met the delegation, gave a reception for them at Lancaster House. was done contrary to the advice of officials (see Mr Wilford's minute of 11 June at folio 11 on the 1973 file) and it does not 'necessarily follow that we should raise the possibility of official
entertainment this time round. It is also perhaps relevant that whereas the delegation gave a dinner in 1973, they are limiting them- selves to a cocktail party this time. Nevertheless, I think that we should be aware of what was done last time and stand ready to ask PSD for funds if Lord Goronwy-Roberts were to decide to entertain the delegation. Again, I do not think that the point needs to be covered in the submission.
15 March 1977
D. F. Millola
D F Milton
Hong Kong Department
CODE 18 - 77
COVERING CONFIDENTIAL