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020/14
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PERSONAL FOR ACTING GOVERNOR FROM BURNS, AUSS
VISIT BY DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP
MPs
(4)
165352
MDHOAN 9809
VISITS
Full please
1. ALISTAIR GOODLAD MP, CURRENTLY DEPUTY CHIEF WHIP AND SOME TEN YEARS AGO A BUSINESS MAN IN THE FAR EAST, WITH FREQUENT EXPERIENCE OF VISITS TO HONG KONG, HAS BROACHED THE IDEA THAT HE MIGHT VISIT HONG KONG IN THE WEEK BEGINNING 8 APRIL. BOTH THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND LORD CAITHNESS HAVE RESPONDED FAVOURABLY TO HIS APPROACHES TO THEM, THOUGH IT IS A LITTLE UNCLEAR WHAT HMG COULD HOPE TO GAIN FROM SUCH A VISIT IN THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH OF THAT BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
2. GOODLAD HAS, HOWEVER, IN HIS PRESENT ROLE, BEEN CLOSELY INVOLVED IN STEERING GOVERNMENT BUSINESS ON HONG KONG THROUGH THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, AND WILL BE A WELL-DISPOSED ALLY IN FUTURE. FROM THAT POINT OF VIEW, A FRESH FAMILIARISATION VISIT TO HONG KONG MIGHT BE USEFUL. I HAVE FOUND IN OTHER CONTEXTS TOO THAT WHIPS ARE RATHER USEFUL VISITORS, IN TALKING NOT ONLY ABOUT THE POLITICAL SCENE AT HOME BUT ALSO ABOUT THE OPERATION OF DEMOCRACY, POLITICAL CAMPAIGNING ETC. I WONDER WHETHER YOU AND WHETHER YOU WOULD BE PREPARED TO PAY HIS AIR FARES (FOR WHICH THE WHIPS HAVE NO SEPARATE BUDGET OF THEIR OWN).
3. GOODLAD HAS A SON IN HIS GAP YEAR CURRENTLY WORKING FOR JARDINE MATHESON IN HONG KONG.
HURD
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