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CONFIDENTIAL

WICK 006/3

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CONFIDENTIAL

FM PEKING 0707002 FEB 79

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 167 OF 7 FEBRUARY

INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG.

HONG KONG TELNO.200:

N.

INVITATION TO THE GOVERNOR TO VISIT CHINA.

1. IN VIEW OF MR VARLEY'S VISIT, A VISIT BY THE GOVERNOR AT THE END OF FEBRUARY IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR US EITHER. A VISIT IN THE LAST WEEK OF MARCH ON THE OTHER HAND, OR IN THE FIRST WEEK OF APRIL, WOULD BE POSSIBLE. HEAD OF CHANCERY WOULD COINCIDENT- ALLY BE IN HONG KONG ON A COURIER RUN 21 24 MARCH AND COULD PARTICIPATE IN PREPARATORY DISCUSSIONS.

12.

THERE IS BOUND TO BE SPECULATION ABOUT THE POURPOSE OF THE

GOVERNOR'S VISIT AND ITS JUXTAPOSITION WITH YOUR OWN, SUCH

SPECLATION WILL INCREASE IF THE TWO VISITS FOLLOW EACH

KA

OTHER DIRECTLY, BUT I CERTAINLY DO NOT RULE OUT THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT IN MARCH BECAUSE OF THAT CONSIDERATION.

CRADOCK

FILES

HKS ~GD

FED

Ps

PS/LORD GORONKy Roberts

Psj Pus

SIR A DUES SIZ A PARSONS

NIL CORTAZZI

MR. MURRAY

CONFIDENTIAL

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