24
Ser 217
Sea (36
HOFO 0032/20
HKK 38012
RECEIVED E
Luke
2. OFER 1978
0.8 1.7
votion Tube}
MT
NO DISTRIBUTION
24
PP FCO
GR 245
CYPHER/CAT A
FM HONG KONG 201037Z
CONFIDENTIAL
TO PRIORITY F.C.0 TEL NO.199 OF 20 FEBRUARY 78.
FOR STEWART, HKGD, FROM GOVERNOR.
YOUR LETTER OF 8 FEBRUARY: VISIT BY CATER.
1. THIS WAS DELAYED IN TRANSIT. I HAVE NOW DISCUSSED WITH CATER.
2. BECAUSE OF THE ABSENCE OF HIS DEPUTY AS FROM THE END OF THIS
MONTH, HE WOULD HAVE TO COME TO LONDON AT ONCE IF AT ALL.
3. NEITHER OF US RELISH THE SORT OF RUMOURS HERE THAT A HASTY
VISIT BY CATER DURING THE JPOA ELECTIONS PERIOD MIGHT PRODUCE, OR WHAT THE JPOA MIGHT MAKE OF THEM (THE KEY ELECTION PERIOD IS FEBRUARY 21 TO THE END OF THE MONTH).
4. AS YOU POINT OUT THE ORIGINAL REQUIREMENT FOR SUCH A VISIT
(1.E TO CALM M.P'S AND THE U.K MEDIA) NO LONGER EXISTS, AND A
VISIT WOULD BE MORE LIKELY TO STIR UP THIS ISSUE IN THE U.K (AND HERE) THAN THE OPPOSITE.
5. I FULLY SYMPATHISE WITH THE MINISTER'S WISH TO HAVE A TALK
WITH CATER, IN ADDITION TO HEARING CRANE, (INCIDENTALLY I DO HOPE HE WILL SEE HIM PERSONALLY), BUT IN VIEW OF PARAS.2, 3 AND 4 ABOVE COULD NOT THIS MEETING BE ARRANGED DURING THE
MINISTER'S TRANSIT OF HONG KONG ON MARCH 19?
6. TO STAY THE NIGHT HERE WOULD FREE HIM FROM THE UNCERTAINTIES
OF B.A, BUT IF HE WERE PREPARED TO TRAVEL TO MANILA BY QF28, ETD 20/3, THERE SHOULD BE PLENTY OF TIME (OUR TEL NO.182, PARA.2 REFERS). IF THIS MEETING IS FRUSTRATED BY FLIGHT DELAY CATER COULD ALWAYS SEE THE MINISTER UNOBTRUSIVELY IN MANILA.
MACLEHOSE
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