CONFIDENTIAL
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STAFF IN CONFIDENCE
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R D Clift
HKGD
Sir J Cater KBE Acting Governor HONG KONG
P J WILLIAMSON'S LEAVE/DUTY VISIT TO HONG KONG
1. Martin Rowlands' letter of 8 April agreed to the exten-
sion of Patrick Williamson's secondment and also that he
should take leave at the end of this year.
Patrick has now
asked that his visit to Hong Kong should in fact be from
2 to 28 March. This is because his landlord wishes to occupy
his house during that month.
Patrick proposes to include a
week of duty visits in Hong Kong in that period. This suits
us and, I hope, will be convenient to you.
2. Patrick has also asked whether it would be possible to
include Peking in his visit on the grounds that a large amoun
of our work here has a China angle to it.
3. As you know, Peter Webb and Philip Morrice, when they
made their familiarisation visits to Hong Kong, both went on
to Peking for talks with the Embassy there. Philip Morrice
has confirmed that a good deal of the activities of the
Chancery and Consular Section in Peking is concerned with
Hong Kong affairs and he feels that his own visit has been of
great value to him. My own view is that it would be useful
for Patrick to go on to Peking, both in terms of his present
job and as a longer term investment for him and the Hong Kong
Government. I appreciate that you have fairly stiff local
rules about Civil Servants visiting China, but in view of th
/rapid
CONFIDENTIAL STAFF IN CONFIDENCE
A