Registry No. HWB.
CONFIDENTIAL
2/1.
DRAFT S/O letter
Type 1 +
To:-
Top Secret. Secret. Confidential.
Restricted.
K.M. Wilford Esq.,
Colonial Secretariat, HONG KONG.
Unclassified.
From
134
Telephone No. & Ext.
Department
Fith August 1967
Copies to:
E. Bolland Esq.,
F.0.
sent
133
B.T. Gilmore, British Embassy, Washington.
D. Hopson Esq., C.M.G, D.S.O., M.C. T.D.
British Embassy, Peking.
J.Guin Office of the Political Advicer,
Singapore
117
121
I am not sure whether you are expecting a reply to your letter SCR.15/5061/49 II of the 27th July about
the cancelled visit of the U.S.S. "Constallation". But
on balance I came to the conclusion that it would be as
Seni well to be you he one, if only to clear up any mis-
understanding that may exist.
Let me say that we are very sorry indeed for all
the trouble and repercussions that the cancellation of
the visit may have caused; but the short answer to your
letter is that we have to do as we are told. I
agree that the timing was rather last minute but in any
event Hong Kong telegram No.1047, which was the first
intimation that we received of the visit, reached us on
before it was due the 17th July, and gave us only eight days notice of the to take place visit. It is true that our telegram No.1508 in reply did not go off until the 22nd July, butą as you know yourself, decisions at Ministerial level take a little
time to obtain.
Having said all this, I can assure you that we, for
wric our part, ekelt do our best to see that this kind of
incident does not recur: at the same time we would hope
to have from Hong Kong as much notice as possible of
such visits in the future.
I am sending copies of this letter to the persons
mentioned in your last paragraph.
Love
4/8
&d
W.S CARTER
97499 3.S.
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.