TNAG-0286-FCO40-322-Visits-of-HRH-Princess-Alexandra-to-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 42

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Mr. Wilford/

Sir L. Mobson

CONFIDENTIAL

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Royal Visits Committee

Proposed Visit by HRH Princess Alexandra

to Hong Kong and Malaysia) in 1970

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The proposal that Princess Alexandra should visit Hong Kong and

Malaysia was considered by the Committee at its last meeting on

18 February.

2. My predecessor recommended that further consideration be given

to the possibility of an official visit by Princess Alexandra to

Hong Kong in 1970 on the basis that, if financial provision were the

obstacle to a visit, the Governor would, in the last resort, be

prepared to ask his standing Finance Committee to vote the necessary Colony funds to meet the costs (or a share of the costs) involved.

A copy of his submission is attached.

3.

At their meeting on 18 February the Committee "agreed to reconsider at a later stage the proposals for visits to Fiji (which would depend on the political situation in the Island), to California, to Argentina (for the Trade Fair) and for Princess Alexandra to Malaysia and Hong Kong; it might be possible for two or more of these visits to be combined."

4. In his submission of 9 June, Mr. Aiers has recommended that the Committee should consider in the light of the timing of The Queen's visit to Malaysia, whether Princess Alexandra should still be advised

to visit that country if she goes to Hong Kong near to the time of the main Royal Visit to the area. I support that recommendation.

There seems no reason why a visit by The Queen to Singapore and

Malaysia, either in January, 1971, or later that year, should affect the proposal for Princess Alexandra to visit Hong Kong in the autumn

this year.

5. Following his visit to Hong Kong in April this year, the

Secretary of State recorded that he had found strong feeling throughout his discussions in Hong Kong that the Colony was, as it were, somewhat misunderstood and neglected by Her Majesty's Government. He went on to say that he felt sure that we must take

CONFIDENTIAL

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