4.
In September last year the Governor wrote to Sir Savile Garner suggesting that a visit by The queen October/November/December of 1968 to open the Plover Cove Water Scheme could perhaps be regarded as more acceptable, in that it would be a visit for a particular purpose and not in the manner of a general "display of sovereignty". Because the letter was unfortunately mislaid, considered Foreign Office views are not available. They have just, however, received an assessment from Mr. Hopson in Feking who does not rate the risks of a visit by The Queen so high as did his predecessor (Mr. Garvey) in 1964; this clearly has to be carefully considered. Nevertheless, it remains the view of the Far Eastern Department in the Foreign Office that the risks are probably unacceptable; this view is shared by the Hong Kong Department. In the circumstances it does not seem advisable to make a bid in the Committee for the Queen to
visit Hong Kong.
5.
In January the Governor put forward the alternative suggestion that, if there was objection to a visit by the Queen,
We await Foreign Office Prince Charles might undertake the visit. views on this too. It is unlikely that they will see any political objection, The Duke of Edinburgh visited Hong Kong in 1959, and the Foreign Office saw no objection in 1964 to a further visit.
There have been visits during the last six years by Princess Alexandra and Princess Margaret, without any Chinese reaction. The Prince, as a future Sovereign, may admittedly be in a different category, and there may be objections to his undertaking public duties while his education (at Cambridge) continues.
However the
Committee might be asked to consider thes alternative proposal of
the Governor.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.