Mr Benest (CG 514 PSD)
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PROPOSED VISIT TO JAPAN, HONG KONG AND NEW DELHI BY MR FARRINGTON, SENIOR ASSISTANT KEEPER IN THE INDIA OFFICE RECORDS
1.
I have received a request from Mr Farrington that he be permitted to visit Japan, Hong Kong and India and that his visit be regarded as official duty.
2. I attach a copy of Mr Farrington's minute to me and a copy of a letter of invitation from Mitsukoshi (UK) Limited together with a copy of a previous minuting from my predecessor dated 12 July 1978 with comments by our AUSS, Mr Murray. These documents put the application in context.
3.
Mr Farrington wants to fly from Heathrow on 28 September arriving in Hong Kong the following day. He wishes to stay in Hong Kong until 4 October and he will make his own arrangements for accommodation and subsistence. While he is in Hong Kong he will visit the University and Robert Black College and will conduct investigations on behalf of the 1OLR into the remaining East India Company records/links in Hong Kong and Macao. No member of our staff has visited these archives recently. On 4 October hr Farringto will leave Hong Kong and fly to Tokyo where he will be under the care of Mitsukoshi Limited. He has been acting over the past 18 months or so as adviser to this important store Group on the exhibition "Victorian Japan" in liaison with the Victoria and Albert Museum. He will be attending in Japon in a curatorial and advisory function and the exhibition you will note is in conjunction with a British Trade Fair. The whole nexus of activities has been approved by FED.
4.
On 16 and 17 October Mr Farrington will remain in Tokyo and be responsible for his own costs and subsistence. These 2 days I suggest should be regarded as part of his leave entitlement.
5. However, on 18 October he leaves Tokyo and I suggest that he should be permitted to break his journey in New Delhi until 26 October. In New Delhi I would like him to visit the National Archives to consult with members of staff there on the military records and on the working of our microfilm exchange. This I think is very desirable and it is more desirable that a senior member of staff undertakes it.
6.
I recommend Mr Farrington's time in New Delhi should be regarded as on official duty and I would hope that he can be released on special leave for this period and can claim subsistence at the appropriate rate.
7. To summarize therefore I recommend that Mr Farrington be allowed to visit Japan, Hong Kong and India on special leave between 28 September and 26 October with the exception that the days 16 and 17 October shortd be regarded as part of his annual leave. I further recommend that he should be able to claim subsistence for the time that he is in New Delhi, that is from 18 - 26 October.
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