CONFIDENTIAL
CYR/CAT.A
IMMEDIATE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE ΤΟ
HONG KONG
TELNO. 205
2 FEBRUARY 1968 (HWB 18/65)
15
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CONFIDENTIAL
HEUNG YEE KUK DELEGATION.
SEDGWICK HAS RECEIVED A SOMEWHAT DISTURBING REPORT (DATED 31 JANUARY) FROM DAVID LAI ABOUT ATTITUDE AND ACTIVITIES OF CERTAIN MEMBERS OF DELEGATION. (DELEGATION IS AT THE MOMENT IN MANCHESTER ON ITS PROVINCIAL TOUR AND IS NOT DUE BACK IN LONDON UNTIL 17 FEBRUARY). WE UNDERSTAND THAT LAI HAS ALREADY POSTED COPY OF REPORT TO AKERS-JONES, SELLERS AND OTHERS AND IT SHOULD REACH HONG KONG WITHIN A DAY OR TWO.
2. WE HAVE ARRANGED FOR DELEGATION TO SEE LORD SHEPHERD ON 21 FEBRUARY BUT SINCE SECRETARY OF STATE IS UNDER HEAVY PRESSURE WE FELT UNABLE TO ACCEDE TO DELEGATION'S REQUEST TO SEE HIM ALSO. WE ALSO FELT THAT A REQUEST BY DELEGATION FOR AUDIENCE WITH THE QUEEN COULD NOT BE PURSUED.
3. ACCORDING TO LAI, THE DELEGATION WERE "'VERY ANGRY'' AT THEIR FAILURE TO SECURE APPOINTMENT WITH SECRETARY OF STATE AND PANG FU WAH HAS INTIMATED THAT IF THEY CANNOT SEE THOMSON OR ANYONE HIGHER THEY WILL NOT SEE ANYONE AT ALL"" . HE MAY HOWEVER BE SPEAKING ONLY FOR HIMSELF IN THIS RESPECT AND NOT FOR THE FULL DELEGATION.
4. WE ARE RELUCTANT TO ASK THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO ADD TO HIS ALREADY OVERCROWDED SCHEDULE BY SEEING THE DELEGATION, (PARTICUL- ARLY IN VIEW OF THE CONDUCT OF CERTAIN MEMBERS REPORTED BELOW), BUT IF YOU FEEL THAT FAILURE TO SEE HIM WILL LEAD TO UNDESIRABLE POLITIC-
AL REPERCUSSIONS IN HONG KONG WE WILL SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE.
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RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No. 63
EXPIE 1568
Hw B18/65
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