DRAFT: minuts/letter/teleketter/lespatel/note
FROM:
APS
DEPARTMENT:
TEL. NO:
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
TO:
Top Secret
Tim Flesher Esq
Secret
No 10 Downing Street
Confidential
Restricted
Unclassified
TYPE: Draft/Final 1+
Reference
Your Reference
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SOUTH EAST ASIA
PRIVACY MARKING
...In Confidence
CAVEAT......
Enclosures-flag(s).............
SUBJECT:
VISIT BY LORD BELSTEAD TO HONG KONG & THAELAND
1. The Secretary of State has agreed that Lord Belstead
should visit Hong Kong and South East Asia from 5-17
December. The principal purpose will be to chair a
Conference of our Heads of Mission in ASEAN countries,
to be held in Bangkok on 13/14 December. A short,
separate, bilateral visit to Thailand is inevitable in
these circumstances and Lord Belstead will stay on for
three days to do this.
2. During the week preceding the Conference Lord
Belstead, as Junior Minister responsible, will visit Hong Kong, principally for familiarisation. But this
visit would also form part of our deliberate effort to
maintain the momentum of Ministerial attention to Hong
Kong at a time when the territory is acutely conscious
of its relationship with HMG.
3.
While in the area Lord Belstead will spend two days in Brunei, which attains full independence next year.
4. Lord Belstead will be accompanied by his Private
Secretary throughout; by one official in Hong Kong; and
by two officials for the Heads of Mission Conference.
5.
I am copying this letter to Richard Hatfield
(Cabinet Office) and Michael Pownall (House of Lords).
CONFIDENTIAL