TNAG-0333-FCO40-369-Visits-of-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Af-1972 — Page 103

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FOR REASONS OF ECONOMY THE JOURNALISTS ARE VERY KEEN TO BENEFIT FROM

GROUP BOOKING POSSIBILITIES AND THAT THEY WOULD THEREFORE APPRECIATE

PERMISSION FROM THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES TO ARRIVE (IN EITHER ONE OR TWO GROUPS FROM LONDON) ON 24 OF 25 OCTOBER. (THE NEED TO SAY

"ONE OR TWO GROUPS' IS MADE NECESSARY BY THE FACT THAT THE JOURN-

ALISTS HAVE BEEN OFFERED TWO ALTERNATIVES: EITHER A GROUP BOOKING TO

HONG KONG, WHENCE THEY WOULD TRAVEL TO PEKING VIA CANTON, OR A DIRECT FLIGHT TO PEKING. FOR THE PRESENT AT LEAST, THEY WISH TO MAINTAIN BOTH THESE OPTIONS AS POSSIBILITIES.)

5. AS FAR AS WE ARE AWARE, THERE IS NO LIKELIHOOD OF ANY SENJOR

MEMBERS OF THE OFFICIAL PARTY REMAINING BEHIND IN CHINA AFTER THE

SECRETARY OF STATE'S DEPARTURE. THE POSSIBILITY OF EXTENDING THE JOURNALISTS' VISIT BY THIS DEVICE MUST THEREFORE, WE FEEL, BE EXCLUDED FROM OUR CALCULATIONS,

6. YOUR PARAGRAPH 5. WE WERE GRATEFUL FOR THE INFORMATION ON COSTS, WHICH WE SHALL PASS ON TO THE JOURNALISTS WHO PROPOSE TO ACCOM~

PANY THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

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