TNAG-0278-FCO40-314-Visit-of-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Aff-1970 — Page 240

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3. On (a) we think it would be preferable if the Governor

delayed taking members of his Executive Council into his confidence

until arrangements with the Japanese have been finalised. So far

we have only got their acceptance in principle.

4. We should agree to (b). Public presentation of the visit as primarily a rest stop is endorsed by our Chargé d'Affaires (Peking telegram No.49); it would reduce the danger of speculation about the purposes of the visit; it would also explain the short duration of the visit and the Secretary of State's limited

engagements.

5.

I

(c) indicates that there may have been some misunderstanding

of our telegram No.41 in which it was suggested that the Secretary of State "meet senior officials and members of the Executive and Legislative Councils (perhaps over lunch) on Monday". The wording

is not quite as clear as it might have been. I took it to mean

that the Secretary of State would meet senior officials and (quite separately) lunch with members of the two Councils.

think the Governor may have read it as meaning a combined meeting over lunch: this would involve fairly large numbers (seventeen unofficials plus about a dozen officials) and as a result he appears to contemplate restricting the lunch to unofficial members of Executive Council and senior officials and to be putting in a plea

for a separate meeting with senior officials. It would be a pity

if members of Legislative Council were omitted from the lunch

because of any misunderstanding on this point. It has been the

usual practice for Colonial Office and Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers visiting Hong Kong to :-

(a) hold discussions with the Governor's inner "committee"

consisting of the Commander, British Forces and senior

officials;

(b) to hold informal discussions with unofficial members of

both Councils or of Executive Council only;

(c) meet unofficial members of the two Councils at lunch or

dinner (which they usually organise)

•

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Lord Aylestone

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