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CONFIDENTIAL
DSR 11C
relations have deteriorated since then and both H M Ambassado
in Peking and theGovernor in Hong Kong have drawn attention
to the likely adverse Chinese reaction to stopping over in
Moscow.
The next shortest route is via Elmendorf in Alaska
where a refuelling stop of one to one and a half hours would
be made.
(b) The Return Route
The quickest route back to London from Hong Kong, the last
point on the tour, would be via New Delhi and Bahrain. It
has been suggested that a stop over in Delhi might present
an opportunity of a meeting between the Prime Minister
and Mrs Gandhi, but
(a) the Programme for the last day in Hong Kong
as it stands will not permit the Prime Minister's
aircraft to reach Delhi until after midnight on
28 September, too late for a meeting, and
(b) Mrs Gandhi might not be in India at the time
as she is scheduled to visit Moscow sometime over
this period.
The recommendation, following consultation with the Departments
already tight concerned, is therefore that the programme in Hong Kong should
not be truncated to enable the VC10 to arrive in Delhi at a
might
time that would permit a meeting between the two Prime Ministe
3.
RECOMMENDATION
That the Prime Minister's aircraft should fly out to the
Far East via Elmendorf in Alaska and back via New Delhi and
Bahrain, and that the stops made are purely technical, ie no
meetings with local political leaders are arranged.
4.
FED, HKGD, EESD and SAD concur.
5.
A draft letter to No 10 is attached.
CONFIDENTIAL