Private Secretary
CONFIDENTIAL
MRB 027/3
33
F
From: RJT McLaren
Date: 31 March 1988
Cc: Mr Gillmore Mr Hum, HKD
Mr Adams, SEAD
Mr Macleod, Protocol Dept
WHITSUN RECESS
1. In your minute of 30 March you asked whether it would be practicable to fit in a visit to Hong Kong and possibly Manila between 26 May and 1 June. Mr Hum has had an informal word with the Governor and I have spoken to Mr MacInnes (on leave in this country). The results of these and other preliminary enquiries are as follows:
(i) It would theoretically be possible to fit in both Hong Kong and Manila in the time available and using scheduled flights. The London-Hong Kong services are excellent and there are at least six flights between Hong Kong and Manila (1 hour 40 minutes).
(ii) It would not really be possible to pay a satisfactory visit to Hong Kong over the weekend. The Governor is in any case due to visit China during the previous week and on present plans will not be back until Saturday 28 May. he could of course alter this plan if necessary, but it would not be feasible to have a useful programme on the Sunday.
(iii) The central event for any visit to the Philippines would be a call on Mrs Aquino. She normally receives visitors on Tuesdays and Thursday but Mr MacInnes thinks - and I agree that she would probably be prepared to receive the Secretary of State on a Saturday provided she is in town and sufficient notice were given. It might also be possible to arrange a call on the Foreign Secretary Manglapus on that day and possibly other calls and social events. A sight-seeing trip could be arranged for the Sunday with departure for Hong Kong on an afternoon flight to allow for a Government House function on the Sunday evening. (Cathay Pacific flight departs at 1320)
(iv) In the time available Protocol Department have only been able to make preliminary checks on airline schedules. The only practicable possibility they have so far been able to identify is the once weekly BA flight to Manila (two stops), which leaves at 1300 on Thursday and arrives in Manila at 1550 on Friday 26 May. To enable him to attend Cabinet the Secretary of State could take a helicopter from central London to Heathrow. Unfortunately none of the London - Hong Kong flights later on Thursday arrive in Hong Kong early enough to connect with the last Cathay Pacific flight to Manila at 1630 on the Friday (I understand the Secretary of State is precluded from flying on Philippine Airlines).
(v)
The Secretary of State would have a choice of late
CONFIDENTIAL
/ evening