TNAG-0100-FCO40-136-Hong-Kong-royal-visits-1968 — Page 46

CONFIDENTIAL

3

in the case of a visit by Her Majesty The Queen.

L

The risk

Clearly, 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

may of a long-term shift in policy, with become apparent

in the next month or two.

5. The preliminary views of the Foreign Office are

that, although they see no reason 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.

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.

Flag "E"

6.

CONFIDENTIAL