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102516 MDADAN 9379
HEAVILY ON AIR FARES. THERE MAY EVEN BE NO ADDITIONAL COSTS IN DR CONDE DIVERTING VIA HONG KONG. THE MAJOR DISADVANTAGE CLEARLY IS THE DESPERATELY SHORT TIME AVAILABLE IN HONG KONG TO PUT TOGETHER A PROGRAMME. I TOLD DR CONDE THAT TO GET AGREEMENT TO A VISIT BEFORE HIS DEPARTURE ON 27 MARCH, AND TO HAVE DETAILS OF THE PROGRAMME AVAILABLE FOR HIM ON HIS ARRIVAL ON 5 APRIL, WAS A TALL ORDER, ALTHOUGH IF IT COULD BE ACHIEVED ANYWHERE, HONG KONG WAS THE PLACE.
6. I APOLOGISE FOR THE SHORTNESS OF THIS NOTICE, WHICH IS BEYOND OUR CONTROL, BUT A FEW KEY APPOINTMENTS AND VISITS TO TWO OR THREE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS SPREAD OVER THESE DAYS WOULD SUFFICE. THE PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AS EXPLAINED IN MY TELNO 27 TO THE FCO, WOULD BE TO DEMONSTRATE HOW HONG KONG HAS SOLVED THE PROBLEM OF SLUM DWELLERS IN SHANTY TOWNS SURROUNDING THE CITY, SINCE RIO HAS SUCH TROUBLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. DR CONDE SAID HE WAS ALSO INTERESTED IN URBAN PLANNING AND TRANSPORT QUESTIONS, AND VISITING THE URBAN PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
7. DR CONDE IS AN EXPERIENCED ARCHITECT AND URBAN PLANNER BORN IN 1934. ALL HIS CAREER HAS BEEN SPENT IN BRAZIL MUCH IN PRIVATE PRACTICE. HE HAS ALSO BEEN DEAN OF THE FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING IN RIO'S FEDERAL UNIVERSITY. UNFORTUNATELY, HE SPEAKS VERY LITTLE ENGLISH AND AN INTERPRETER WOULD BE REQUIRED OVER WHICH I IMAGINE THE BRAZILIAN CONSULATE GENERAL IN HONG KONG COULD HELP. (IF HONG KONG GIVES THE GREEN LIGHT TO THE VISIT I WILL APPROACH THE FOREIGN MINISTRY IN BRASILIA TO SEE THAT THEY INSTRUCT THEIR CONSUL GENERAL IN HONG KONG ACCORDINGLY.) DR CONDE WOULD TRAVEL WITHOUT AN ASSISTANT BUT WITH HIS WIFE. IN COMPLETING THE ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS ONCE THE VISIT IS APPROVED, THE CONSULATE GENERAL WILL REEMPHASISE THAT OUR INVITATION DOES NOT COVER THE EXTRA COSTS FOR HIS WIFE.
8. IF HONG KONG CAN APPROVE THE VISIT AS PROPOSED, GRATEFUL TO KNOW BEFORE 27 MARCH, AND AT WHAT HOTEL DR CONDE WILL BE ACCOMMODATED. HE SAID THAT IF WE WISH TO PURSUE HIM WITH ANY DETAILS BETWEEN THEN AND HIS DEPARTURE FROM TOKYO ON 5 APRIL, WE COULD DO SO THROUGH THE BRAZILIAN EMBASSY THERE.
KELLY
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