TNAG-0100-FCO40-136-Hong-Kong-royal-visits-1968 — Page 26

CONFIDENTIAL

bm.

4.68

ANGE. 9.168.

1.9.68. bu 1.9

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Inquire

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Rogel Wint

Citer.)

ANG

20.12,47

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22

Mi Carter

ита

19/12

Dear Henry

NEX

GOVERNMENT HOUSE

REF.

N.. Gaghmara

19/12

HONG KONG.

RAR

ANG

し

ル

LAST

REF

22

14th December 1967

Thank you for your letter of 8th November about the possibility of a Royal visit next year.

On the basis that the visit will be for 3-4 days we would like a minimum of four months for the planning if possible, although we can manage with a little less if we have to. This assumes that the interchange of proposals and visits between here and the Visitor's household are reasonably rapid and not delayed, as was unavoidably the case with Princess Margaret, by her absence from the country on other visits and by holidays. I would also stress the desirability, which must be well-known in the Royal households, for a member of the Visitor's household to make a forerunner trip to Hong Kong not less than 2 months before the date of the main visit to clear up the innumerable points which arise in planning and which can only be settled on the ground here.

However you are, at the moment, primarily concerned with the timing of an announcement, and I think we can safely say that the overt planning can be done in three months. The date of the Inauguration (we now prefer this description to 'Opening' as it is public knowledge that the reservoir has been in use for some months already) can be at any time after 1st October 1968.

The ceremony

but

may be confined basically to unveiling a plaque; depending on the date and progress of the work it may be possible to combine it with the opening of the main pumping station. With reference to your last paragraph, there is no technical reason why the date of inauguration should not be brought forward, but I would advise against this because of the risk of the ceremony being spoilt by heavy rain or having to be cancelled altogether because of typhoon conditions.

H.P. Hall Esq., CMG, MBE.

Yours ever

David.