GR 245
UNCLASSIFIED
DESKBY FCO 878745Z
FM TOKYO 876233Z JUL 82
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
TELEGRAM NO 349 OF 7 JULY
AND IMMEDIATE, HONG KONG
RFI PRIORITY PEKING
512
FCO TEL NOT TO HONG KONG: SELECT COMMITTEE ON DEFENCE
1, THE VISIT TO CHINA BY MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE WAS
ARRANGED BY DR GILBERT THROUGH THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN
LONDON WITHOUT THE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OR AGREEMENT OF THE
CHAIRMAN AND CLERK. THE VISIT IS ENTIRELY PRIVATE: THE
PS ARE PAYING FOR THEIR OWN FLIGHTS AND ARE NOT GOING
IN THEIR CAPACITY AS HE BERS OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE.
2.
GILBERT, GEORGE, WALL, MATES AND MARSHALL PLUS
MRS MARSHALL ORIGINALLY PLANNED TO LEAVE HONG KONG FOR
PEKING ON MONDAY 12 JULY LEAVING ONLY THREE COMMITTEE
EMBERS (CHAIRMAN, DUNN, LANGFORD-HOLT) TO COMPLETE THE
PROGRAMME IN HONG KONG. AT THE INSISTENCE OF THE CHAIRMAN
AND CLERK EFFORTS ARE BEING MADE THROUGH THE CLERK'S OFFICE
IN LONDON TO ARRANGE, SEATS ON A FLIGHT FROM HONG KONG TO
PEKING ON TUESDAY 13 JULY (THIS IS PRESUMABLY THE
·
CAAC FLIGHT LEAVING AT 0930 BUT WE DO NOT YET HAVE
CONFIRMATION OF THI
THIS).
3.
ACCORDING TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE CONFIRMED RESERVATIONS
FOR TUESDAY 13 JULY HAVE SO FAR ONLY BEEN OBTAINED FOR TWO MEMBERS (MATES AND WALL). THIS MEANS THAT UNLESS CONFIRMED
RESERVATIONS CAN BEN OBTAINED FOR THE OTHER THREE
ON THE TUESDAY FLIGHT ONLY FIVE MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE WILL BE AVAILABLE TO CARRY OUT THE
PROGRAMIE IN HONG KONG ON MONDAY 12 JULY. THE CHAIRMAN
AND CLERK REGRET THIS BUT CONFIRM THAT A QUORUM OF THE
COMMITTEE WILL BE PRESENT THROUGHOUT.
WHITEHEAD
MINIMAL
PCCU FED HK & GD
WP
Page 315Page 316