72
RESTRICTED
TOP COPY
GRS 130
RESTRICTED
DESKBY HONG KONG (2519 38Z)
DESKBY TOKYO (NEXT CONTACT).
FM UKMIS NEW YORK 251600Z SEPT 80
TO IMMEDIATE GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 11 OF 25 SEPTEMBER
HICK 026/17
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 2 6 SEP 1980
DESK OFFICER
PA
INDEX
FEGISTRY
ction Taken
PS
PM) W 16/9
INFO IMMEDIATE TOKYO, FCO, PEKING, BELGRADE (FORT PM). Mu
FROM SECRETARY OF STATE.
MY VISIT.
1. I REGRET THAT BECAUSE OF THE CONFLICT BETWEEN IRAN AND IRAQ I CANNOT LEAVE NEW YORK TODAY AS PLANNED. IT IS NOT YET CLEAR WHETHER
THE SECURITY COUNCIL WILL MEET. IF IT DOES SO I WILL WISH TO BE
PRESENT. I MUST IN ANY CASE KEEP IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH MUSKIE AND OTHERS, AND CANNOT BE IN THE AIR AND OUT OF CONTACT WITH LONDON
WHILE MATTERS ARE SO UNCERTAIN.
2. 1 MAY BE ABLE TO LEAVE NEW YORK IN THE COURSE OF 26 SEPTEMBER, THOUGH I SHALL NOT BE TAKING A FINAL DECISION ON THIS YET. HOWEVER, IT WILL BY THEN BE TOO LATE TO REACH HONG KONG IN TIME TO CARRY OUT A SENSIBLE PROGRAMME. WITH SINCERE APOLOGIES TO YOU, YOUR WIFE AND YOUR STAFF, I MUST THEREFORE CANCEL THE VISIT TO HONG KONG. I AM SORRY THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN PUT TO SO MUCH UNNECESSARY TROUBLE: AND ALSO THAT WE SHALL BE MISSING A VISIT TO WHICH WE WERE LOOKING FORWARD. PLEASE ALSO CONVEY MY REGRETS TO THE MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. BUT I KNOW THAT YOU AND THEY WILL UNDERSTAND WHY
WE HAVE TO TAKE THIS DECISION.
3. WE SHALL BE IN TOUCH TOMORROW WITH TOKYO ABOUT OUR FURTHER
MOVEMENTS. I HOPE TO BE ABLE TO GO AHEAD WITH MY VISITS TO JAPAN AND CHINA, BUT THIS MUST OF COURSE DEPEND ON THE WAY THINGS GO
IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
PARSONS
STANDARD
HK&GD
FED
PCD
NEWS D
MED
UND
NAD
RESTRICTED
Page 45Page 46