CONFIDENT I AL
Copy to Sir David Trench, K. C.M.G., M.C.,
Hotel Montrose,
Stillorgan Road,
Dublin, 4.
and to Travel Section, D.S.A.0.
8 August, 1967.
As you will have heard, Lord Shepherd has now taken over from Mrs. Hart as Minister of State in the Commonwealth Office responsible for the Dependent Territories Division.
Lord Shepherd would very much like to visit Hong Kong, but for a number of reasons he cannot get away until October. He would have to be back in this country on 23 October when Parliament is due to reassemble. He realises that the double 10th may be a tricky time and his tentative plans are to leave London on 11 October and break his journey in Singapore before going on to Hong Kong on Saturday, 14 October. This would leave Sunday, 15 October, for leisurely discussions with the Governor and the official programme could start on Monday 16 October for about four days. Lord Shepherd could then return to London on, say, Friday 20th.
I should make it clear that this is all very tentative at this stage and will of course depend on the situation in Hong Kong nearer the time of the proposed visit. In the meantime, however, I should be grateful for your reactions to this proposal and whether you think a visit of this kind would be a good thing or would place any particularly severe security burden on you.
The present intention is that Lord Shepherd's Private Secretary and I should accompany him. As you know, I myself have not yet visited Hong Kong and I think it is time that I should do so.
I am sending a copy of this letter to David Trench.
LAST
63
BEE.
Recire to be Caster
(H.P. Hall) NEXT
REF.
14/8.
m
to see
DHR
REC
ARC
IN
*7%.
Mr Cartes
0170/
I think about time?
you
know
ᏱᏧᏓᏁ 2 -
Ano
M.D.I. GASS, ESQ., C.M.G.,
Government House,
Hong Kong
Mr Reed
24/27 16
1518.
14/8. Yes. But further developments
CONFIENT LAL
are in train which may affect-
timing here
here froned. Lia 14/8
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