TNAG-0278-FCO40-314-Visit-of-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Aff-1970 — Page 222

Mr.

geirora

Mr. J. A. N. Graham

CONFIDENT IAL

Amended Telegram sa

after discussion with A winford

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Visit of Secretary of State to Hong Kong:

18-20 April, 1970

In his telegram No.55 the Governor of Hong Kong said he would

like to be able to inform his Executive Council in strict confidence

of the possibility of a visit by the Secretary of State. We replied on 2 February (our telegram No.66 to Hong Kong) that we

would prefer him to await the conclusion of arrangements for the Secretary of State's visit to Japan.

2.

The Japanese arrangements are taking longer to settle than we

anticipated. When we asked the Governor to hold his hand we were

not sure whether the Japanese would accept the shortened visit the Secretary of State was proposing to suggest. But it now seems certain (our telegram No.92 to Tokyo) that the visit to Japan will cover the period from the evening of Monday, 20 April to the

evening of Friday, 24 April; and that the plan to spend the week-end 18-20 April in Hong Kong (primarily as a rest stop) can be taken as firm. In any case, what the Governor wishes to do

does not involve us in any final commitment as to the arrangements

for the visit to Hong Kong.

3. I therefore suggest that we could now authorise the Governor

to take Executive Council into his confidence, adding that he will

in due course receive advance notification of the public announce-

ment to be made about the Secretary of State's tour. A draft

telegram is attached.

4. Far Eastern Department concur.

10 February, 1970

Copy to: Mr. Wilson, FED.

6.5.

Carter

(W. S. Carter)

I hope you

You can

agree to this thoughs recognice that there many

Hong Kong Department have to be some delay

CONFIDENTIAL

until the Tokyo departure

twine is finalites.

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