TNAG-0336-FCO40-372-Visits-of-Governor-of-Hong-Kong--Sir-Murray-MacLehose--to-UK-1972 — Page 115

CONFIDENTIAL

S

Mr. Laird

(Hong Kong Dept)

out

1. In a personal letter to Mr. Royle Sir Murray MacLehose has suggested that he would value a talk with Mr. Royle on the current Chinese attitude to our basic interests in general and in Hong Kong before Mr.Royle's visit to Peking. He pointed however that Sir Leslie Monson's recent visit would make a trip to London on his part the subject of undesirable speculation immediately before Mr. Royle's visit to Peking.

2. Mr Royle thinks that such a visit by Sir Murray MacLehose would be valuable. He recognises the problem but wonders whether the pretext for it could be discussion of the effects of the Japanese Generalised Preference Scheme on Hong Kong. He would be grateful for your views.

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4 May, 1972

Copied to:

Sir L. Monson Mr. Wilford Mr. Hale

D. B. C. Logan

CONFIDENTIAL