TNAG-0325-FCO40-361-Proposed-visit-by-the-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Com-1972 — Page 58

CONFIDENTIAL

Original: HKU 4/5

The Copy for :

Para(s)

on only/Action en

Sir Michael Walker, KCMG,

2

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Overseas Development Administration, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London, SW1.

London S.W.1

9 September 1971

My dear Michael

Opening of the Science Centre of the Chinese University of Hong Kong

1.

We had a word at the Ministerial Visits Committee to-day about the question of Ministerial attendance at the above ceremony (which will be combined with a meeting of the General Conference of Vice-Chancellors and Principals of Commonwealth Universities). It was agreed that I should write to you about the position as it has now developed.

I enclose no background:

2.

inte

(a) a letter of 29 April last addressed to Denis Greenhill by David Trench in his capacity as Chancellor of the Chinese University. In this letter he conveyed an invitation from the University to a member of the UK Government to attend the ceremony. He suggested that if the Secretary of State could not himself attend a Minister responsible for Aid matters or Educational affairs might be

the most appropriate alternative.

(b) a letter from myself to David Trench of

21 May explaining that the Secretary of State would be glad to come if the date could be adjusted to meet his commitments in this country and if the visit could be fitted in in time so that he could go on from Hong Kong to attend the SEATO Meeting in Canberra, and

(c) a reply to me from the Colonial Secretary suggesting rearrangement of the programme in Hong Kong to meet the dates suggested on the Secretary of State's behalf.

CONFIDENTIAL

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