TNAG-0325-FCO40-361-Proposed-visit-by-the-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Com-1972 — Page 21

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1.

CONFIDENTIAL

AR.V

хо

Mr Wilford

Korg

Sir Lonson

Mr Logan

The Private Secretary

SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO HONG KONG 13 15 FEBRUARY

-

In his telegram No 937 (copy attached) Sir Murray MacLehose

has set out his proposals for the Secretary of State's visit

to Hong Kong in February.

2.

The most important point is the proposal that the Secretary

of State should make a major speech on the position of the UK

in the world and on HMG's attitude to Hong Kong (Sir Murray

MacLehose has promised a letter about this). We may perhaps

hope that by February we shall be over our immediate difficulties

with Hong Kong on the textiles front. Nevertheless I am sure

that a speech of this kind by the Secretary of State himself

would do much to restore confidence in the UK.

3. We have discussed the form of the reply to this telegram

with the Private Office and the attached draft reflects their

views.

17 December 1971

сс FED

EMaria

E O Laird

Hong Kong Department

20/12

184.17 mm 20/12

CONFIDENTIAL

ups min