TNAG-0278-FCO40-314-Visit-of-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Aff-1970 — Page 251

SECRETARY OF STATE

CONFIDENTIAL

Mr Maxre

ne

22 Jan

In later Vay well

La secans.

If you agree

You

н

despatch the telegram? Your Visit to Japan (wilferd has cleared it);

22) ANC

You have agreed to visit Japan for the annual round of

official talks with the Japanese Foreign Minister and for the Dritish National Day ak Expo '70 at Csfaka which falls on Wednesday 22 April. Sir Leslie Monson has urged that it would be a very good thing if you could call at Hong Kong on. this journey. He argues, first, that it would be possible to spend 24-36 hours in Hong Kong with very few official engagements, perhaps only a short meeting with the Governor and the Deputy Governor and a lunch with the Executive Council. For the rest you could spend the time in the Governor's optein cottage recuperating from the long journey, and thus be able to arrive fresh in Tokyo after a further three hours flying only.

2. Secondly, Hong Kong is probably our most important remaining Dependent Territory and one in which a crisis could blow up at any time.

3. Thirdly, the question of the Governor's successor will

come up in the spring and a visit will give you an opportunity to

/meet a

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No.51 26 JAN 1970

HKK 22

CONFIDENTIAL