CONFIDENTIAL
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4. The Duke of Edinburgh visited Hong Kong in 1959 and the Foreign Office saw no objection in 1964 to a further visit. is always the risk that a Royal visit to Hong Kong might be regarded by the Chinese Peoples Government (C. P.G.) in Peking as provocation; it is considered, however, that this risk, with its attendant security implications, would be less in the case of a visit by the Duke of Edinburgh than in the case of a visit by Her Majesty The Queen. Clearly, the risk would be unacceptable in circumstances such as those prevailing in recent months. But there have lately been indications that local Communist leaders are
anxious to reduce the temperature of confrontation in the Colony, and there have been rather less tangible signs that this may also
be the desire of the authorities in Peking. Whether this is a purely temporary development, directed towards producing a better atmosphere for the 1st of October celebrations, or is the beginning of a long-term shift in policy, may become apparent in the next
month or two.
5. The preliminary views of the Foreign Office are that, although they see no re-son to oppose the idea of such a visit at this stage, their final attitude will necessarily be dictated by events during the coming months. They will also want to obtain the views of the
British Mission in Peking at a suitable time. They also feel that,
in order to minimise the chances of undesirable repercussions in Peking, the announcement of any such visit should be delayed until the last possible moment.
6. It appears from the Minutes of the Committee's Meeting on 22nd February, 1967, that the Duke of Edinburgh is already committed to visiting the Olympic Games in Mexico in October, 1968,
after which he proposes to visit the Galapagos Islands. If this is the case, a visit to Hong Kong might be included as part of that itinerary without inconvenience to His Royal Highness.
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