CYPHER/CAT A
PRIORITY HONG KONG TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TEL. NO. 165
13 MARCH 1970
TOP COPY
11
IN CONFIDENCE
PERSONAL FOR MONSON FROM GOVERNOR.
YOUR TELEGRAM 144 : NORMAN-WALKER.
I TAKE YOUR POINT ABOUT REFERRING TO SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT.
MY THOUGHT WAS THAT SUCH A REFERENCE WOULD BE A HELP IN OVERCOMING
THE SEVERE SPECULATION WHICH WILL ARISE, WE WILL LEAVE OUT THIS
REFERENCE, BUT IN THIS EVENT IF WE ARE ASKED (BUT ONLY IF ASKED)
WHY A ROUTINE VISIT IS NOW NECESSARY IN VIEW OF SECRETARY OF STATE'S
IMMINENT VISIT, WE CAN ONLY SAY THAT IT IS OF SUCH SHORT DURATION
THAT IT DOES NOT SUFFICIENTLY SERVE THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH THESE
EXCHANGES WERE INTENDED.
2. IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO MAKE ANNOUNCEMENT BEFORE NORMAN-
WALKER'S RETURN FROM EXPO 70 ON 16 MARCH SINCE HE WILL BE UNABLE
(DUE TO AN IMPORTANT ENGAGEMENT) TO SEE THE PRESS ON ARRIVAL AND
WILL LOOK AS IF HE WAS AVOIDING THE EXPLANATIONS WHICH THEY WILL
UNDOUBTEDLY BE PRESSINGLY ANXIOUS TO OBTAIN
3. EVEN IF DENSON'S ARRIVAL IS SPOTTED BY THE PRESS, WHICH WE MAY
WELL BE ABLE TO AVOID, IT WOULD NOT SEEM LIKELY THAT NORMAN-WALKER'S
VISIT COULD BE ASCRIBED TO DISCUSSIONS WITH DENSON IN LONDON IF WE
MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENT ON 16 MARCH. I THEREFORE NOW PROPOSE TO
ANNOUNCE ON THE EVENING OF THAT DAY 1.E. AFTER HE RETURNS AND BEFORE
I LEAVE FOR EXPO 70 ON 17 MARCH.
SIR D. TRENCH
FILES:
H.K.D.
F.EASTERN D.
SIR L. MONSON
MR. WILFORD
PRIVATE SECRETARY
DDDDD
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No.51
R-F
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(10) G2
14KK1/20
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