TNAG-0325-FCO40-361-Proposed-visit-by-the-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Com-1972 — Page 61

CONFIDENTIAL

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Sir L Monson

HINISTERIAL VISITS COMMITTEE MEETING: AT 4 PM

THURSDAY 9 SEPTEMBER

PROTOSED VISIT EY SECRETARY OF STATE TO HONG KONG IN 1972

1.

The original proposal was that the Secretary of State should visit Hong Kong in April 1972. This was in response to an invitation extended by the Governor, in his capacity as Chancellor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, to a Minister to visit the Colony as a guest of the University to open the "niversity's Science Centre. The Minister would also meet the participants in the General Conference of Vice-Chancellors and

incipals of Commonwealth Universities which was to be held in Hong Kong at the same time. The plan was that the Sccretary of State should go on to Australia from Hong Kong for the SEATO meeting (provided that the dates fitted) and to New Zealand.

2. The above proposals were provisionally agreed with the Governor (and in confidence with the University authorities) subject to the Secretary of State's other commitments. There the matter rests so far as Hong Kong is concerned.

It now seems clear that the SEATO meeting will take place at the end of June (27/28 June). The Secretary of State does bob feel that he could manage a trip to the Far East in April as well as another visit shortly afterwards for the SEATO mooting. He would however be very ready to combine a trip to Hong Kong (and possibly Japan) with visits to Australia (for the STC meeting on 27/28 June) and New Zealand. Such a trip might be fitted in on the way to or from Canberra.

4. I suggest that the Governor and the University authorities be informed of the Secretary of State's change of plans after the mosting on 9 September.

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عليكمال

1319

There is further Correspondence for Сонстрами

file ANG

13.9.가

this

HKX 9/5

Para(s)

7 September 1971

cc

The Private Secretary Sir S Tomlinson

Mr Wilford

Mr Fayle (P & CD)

FED

Bee HRK 9/5

و

E O Laird

Hong Kong Department

In Gardinaa

9 han and a

manate

CONFIDENTIAL

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