TNAG-0333-FCO40-369-Visits-of-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Af-1972 — Page 129

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CONFIDENTIAL

TO PRIORITY PEKING TELNO 734 OF 21/9.

FOLLOWING TELEGRAM NOW REPEATED TO YOU AT REQUEST OF FED WAS RECEIVED FROM HONG KONG TELNO 858 OF 19/9.

FOR PRIVATE SECRETARY.

I WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF WE COULD ANNOUNCE SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO HONG KONG SOON.

2. I THINK YOU TOLD ME THAT PROBABLY THE PARTY WILL NOW LEAVE

ON 3 NOVEMBER.

3. I SUGGEST A STATEMENT ALONG FOLLOWING LINES:

QUOTE THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS WILL VISIT HONG KONG FROM 2 TO 3 NOVEMBER FOLLOWING HIS VISIT TO CHINA. DURING HIS STAY SIR ALEC DOUGLAS-HOME WILL HAVE DISCUSSIONS, WITH THE GOVERNOR AND SENIOR ADVISERS AND UNOFFICIALS AND WILL ALSO MEET THE PRESS UNQUOTE.

4. WHAT TIMING DO YOU PROPOSE?

5. COULD YOU PLEASE ALSO LET ME KNOW APPROXIMATELY WHEN THE PARTY EXPECTS TO LEAVE, AS CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG

I FIND I AM MEANT TO GIVE DEGREES ON THE AFTERNOON OF 3 NOVEMBER

DOUGLAS-HOME

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