TNAG-0331-FCO40-367-Visits-of-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Af-1972 — Page 171

FORITY

CYPHER/CAT A

RESSIVID IN

REGISTRY No. RESTRICTED

-6A 1972

FM F C O 041940Z

KK 22/5 e/s

(HK)

RESTRICTED.

TO PRIORITY HONG KONG TELNO 12 OF 4 JANUARY.

FOLLOWING FROM GRAHAM,

UP COPY

LAST

REF.

(3) Pree

REF.

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YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 966: SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT.

1. I AM AFRAID THAT FOR ONE REASON AND ANOTHER I HAD NOT SEEN YOUR

TELEGRAM NO. 937 WITH THE OUTLINE PROGRAMME UNTIL RECENTLY. YOU ARE

OF COURSE THE JUDGE OF WHAT IS NECESSARY AND DESIRABLE BUT I HAVE

TWO, POINTS:-

1) I SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT. IT WOULD BE USEFUL TO THE SECRETARY OF

STATE TO HAVE A ROUND-TABLE DISCUSSION WITH YOU AND YOUR SENIOR

OFFICIALS BEFORE HE MEETS THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE

EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS. THIS WOULD GIVE YOU AN

OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE FORMALLY WITH HIM ANY PROBLEMS THAT YOU

HAVE PARTICULARLY IN MIND AND ALSO TO BRIEF HIM ON POINTS THAT

THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS ARE LIKELY TO RAISE. IF YOU AGREE, THIS MEETING COULD TAKE PLACE AT SAY 0945 ON MONDAY, 14 FEBRUARY, FOR 1 1/4 HOURS IN PLACE OF THE HELICOPTER TOUR.

11) WHEN MR. STEWART VISITED HONG KONG IN 1970 YOUR PREDECESSOR

MADE THE POINT THAT IT WAS MORE CONVENIENT LOCALLY TO HOLD THE PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE AIRPORT (AS YOU ORIGINALLY SUGGESTED IN YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 937). ON THE OTHER HAND, IT IS SLIGHTLY MORE CONVENIENT TO LEAHY TO HAVE A SHORT INTERVAL AFTER THE

PRESS CONFERENCE. THUS A CONFERENCE AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE AT

10.00A.M. FOLLOWED BY THE DISPLACED HELICOPTER TOUR (TERMINATING

AT THE AIRPORT), WOULD SUIT US, IF IT IS ALL RIGHT WITH YOU (AS AGREED IN YOUR TEL UNDER REF). LEAHY COULD MOVE ON TO THE AIRPORT BY CAR AND BOAT AT 11.00.

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