TNAG-0190-FCO40-226-Title--Royal--conferred-on-Hong-Kong-police-and-auxiliary-po-1969 — Page 166

HKK 14/8 1141

Reference......

Flay Para

15

Preo

کے

Flags Min

we

Mr. Carter

Mr. Els (Protocol and Conference Department

For more than a year now we have had under consideration a proposal by the Governor of Hong Kong that the Hong Kong Police Force should be accorded the prefix "Royal" in their title. This suggestion was made originally as part of an exercise aimed at improving relations generally between HMG and Hong Kong, who have tended rather to feel that their interests have been somewhat disregarded by HMG in recent times.

2.

CTAT

with

The matter was first discussed with the Governor during his visit to London in May last year, but thereafter was allowed to lapse. However, in a

Mr Samen letter dated the 2 September 1968, the Governor not

0177/08 226

Flay

Any pres

Fragh

only revived the idea but coupled it with another suggestion that a member of the Royal Family should be invited to accept the honorary appointment of "Commandant General" of the Hong Kong Police and Auxiliary Police Forces. The matter was further discussed with the Governor during his recent visit to London in October/December 1968. At these discussions, the Governor made it clear that he attached considerable importance to the two proposals being considered as complimentary towards one another. He made it clear that if the second proposal came to nothing he would like an opportunity of reconsidering his first proposal. It was agreed at the discussions that the timing of the implementation of this; proposals should be considered in relation to a projected visit to this country by the Hong Kong Police band in 1969/70. However, the possibility of such a visit has faded, and it is now proposed that the necessary submission should go forward to the Palace, without any reference to a possible visit to this country by the Hong Kong Police band.

Attached

3.

Fling

F

a

I have prepared a draft letter to Sir Michael Adeane, which in accordance with views which Sir Arthur Galsworthy expressed at our discussions with the Governor,

should issue from the Permanent Under- Secretary. I have discussed this matter with Mr. Ellis of Protocol and Conference Department, who considers that the necessary submission should issue from that department. You have asked to see the draft and I am accordingly minuting through you, since I think that Protocol and Conference Department will require these files when considering the submission.

4. There is some urgency about this matter, since the matter has formed the subject of several letters to the Prime Minister from Lieutenant Commander Lynch Maydon, MP. The Private Office has had to ask the Prime Minister's Office to send several temporising replies to Lieutenant Commander Lynch Maydon They accordingly have asked for these submissions to be sent forward to the Palace as soon as possible.

7 January 1969

ME.

(A.W. Gaminara) Hong Kong Department