3.
As regards (ii) above, Mr Aiers has dealt with
this matter,in relation to Singapore and Malaysia,in
his minute of 9 June, a copy of which is attached.
He
Mr Aiers has pointed out that a visit by The Queen to
Malaysia in January, 1971, would undoubtedly detract
from the value of a visit by Princess Alexandra to that
country in conjunction with her proposed visit to Hong
Kong four months earlier. However, there seems no
reason why a visit by The Queen to Singapore and Mal-
aysia, either in January, 1971, or later that year,
should affect the proposal for Princess Alexandra to
visit Hong Kong in or about September, 1970.
4.
Paragraph 7 of the attached submission sets out
the arguments for a Royal Visit to Hong Kong this year.
Those arguments still hold good and in fact they have
now become more compelling. 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
The Secretary of State went on
to say that he felt sure that we must take every oppor-
tunity to demonstrate our interest in and concern with
the problems of the Colony.
5. Paragraphs 4 and 5 of the attached submission
indicate that the Hong Kong Government would, as a
last resort, probably agree to contribute up to
£13,750 towards the cost of a visit to the Colony by
Princess Alexandra. I consider that, in the context
of our present relations with Hong Kong, it would have
a very bad psychological effect if we were to ask the
Colony to contribute towards the cost of a Royal Visit
there. It would be regarded by Hong Kong as a very
CONFIDENTIAL
/paltry
Flag C
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Page 45Page 46
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.