TNAG-0286-FCO40-322-Visits-of-HRH-Princess-Alexandra-to-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 64

CONFIDENTIAL

4.

Accordingly, the matter was further discussed in

the department at a meeting with the Governor on

24 November. The Governor who, for the reasons

stated in paragraph 7 is most anxious that the visit

should take place, then said that if it would enable

the Committee to take a more favourable view of the proposal, he would be willing to ask his Finance

Committee if they would agree, in the last resort, to

vote the funds required to meet the costs of the

suggested visit.

have

Lashaw

Flag B

(or a share of the Cool's of Malaysian was also voted

Tabe

Flag C

5. Shortly after his return to Hong Kong in- December, the Governor reported that members of his

Executive Council had reacted favourably to the idea

that the Colony might have to meet part or all of the

costs of the visit. Any contribution by the Colony would naturally require the formal agreement of the Standing

formation on and and the actual Governor's Finance Committee and would be dependent

on the emer of the actual eests involved; but the

indications are that a contribution of the order of H.K, & 000 could be oblamed without difficulty

(£13,750) would probably be forthcoming if necessary.

200

Amduni

of

6. There is a precedent for the Governor's proposal

The last official Royal visit to Hong Kong(which was

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we went

undertaken at the instance of the Colonial Government

took place in 1961 when Princess Alexandra paid a

ten-day visit to the Colony for the Golden Jubilee

Celebrations of the University of Hong Kong. On that occasion, although the initiative for the visit came from the Hong Kong Government, in the event the visit became part of a tour which included a number of Commonwealth and foreign countries. It was accordingly agreed (hetween the Foreign Office and Colonial Office) that the total common costs involved

(i.e. costs unattributable to any particular territory or country visited, of which the main item was the cost of transport) should be shared between Hong Kong and Foreign Office Colonial Services votes in

crimum orn we...the owned

proportion to the time spent in Hong Kong and in the other territories and countries visited. (Incidental expenses such as the cost of extra dresses for the ladies, presents to be given in Hong Kong, etc., were borne on the Colonial Services

vote).

hould of coure to a considerad When agreement in

Sonight

(77) on FED.

618/02 Part A.

Flag D

Para.3 of (139) on FED.618/02

Part B.

CONFIDENTIAL

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