TNAG-0325-FCO40-361-Proposed-visit-by-the-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Com-1972 — Page 10

CONFIDENTIAL

Mr P Grattan

Reference.......C 2/V/30

TAO 2/1/30 with 49

Main Metathe

SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO THE FAR EAST

1.

FEBRUARY 1972

You asked for details of flights to Hong Kong from midday 11 February to 13 February for the party travelling direct from London to join the Secretary of State there on his arrival from Bangkok.

The most suitable flights are the following (there are others on the 12th and 13th but they are non-British):

2.

QF 758 1530/1855

(via Amsterdam Vienna, Tehran, Delhi)

BA 802 1430 /1700* (via Beirut,

Fri. 11 Feb:

Sat. 12 Feb:

Sun. 13 Feb:

Tehran, Delhi)

BA 924 1030/1420 (via Frankfurt,

Rome, Karachi, Calcutta)

Hong Kong time GMT +8

3.

arrives following day

Although Conference Section have not yet been given the go-ahead as regards making the detailed administrative arrangements for the visit, we ought to be thinking about the travel arrangements, which could be a problem if we delay too long.

4. We understand that the Secretary of State's party will be Lady Douglas-Home, Mr Graham, Miss Holder and two Detectives, but as yet have no idea of the size of the London Contingent. If this should be fairly large we might have difficulty unless we book soon in getting seats for everybody on the Scheduled Services Hong Kong/ Seoul/ Tokyo. (Incidentally, with this in mind, we asked the Ministry of Defence whether, if necessary, it might be possible to use an RAF aircraft of F.E. Command for these legs of the journey, but unfortunately their reply was not at all promising. They would in any case have to use a UK-based aircraft, but in fact both their Comets are laid on for The Queen on 15 February),

5. It would seem that the Secretary of State's provisional programme outlined in FCO tel 594 to Tokyo of 22 November is based on the air schedule in para. 2(a) of Miss Strachan's minute to Nicholas Barrington of 16 November and if you agree that provisional bookings on these services should be made, I should be grateful if you would

CONFIDENTIAL

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