TNAG-0360-FCO40-396-Visit-of-HRH-Princess-Alexandra-and-the-Hon-Angus-Ogilvy-to--1972 — Page 144

CYPHER/CAT A

FM HONG KONG 190140Z

IN CONFIDENCE

RECEIVED IN

RIC

ཀ །

(35)

20SEP/2

hile

NICK 261,

Рок

19/4

TO ROUTINE FCO TELNO 856 OF 19 SEPTEMBER.1972

PLEASE PASS FOLLOWING TO MISS MITCHELL, PRINCESS ALEXANDRA'S OFFICE, KENSINGTON PALACE,

QUOTE VISĪT OF H.R.H. PRINCESS ALEXANDRA.

AUXILIARY POLICE BALL.

1. THE AUXILIARY POLICE HAVE MADE STRONG REPRESENTATION ABOUT THE PROPOSAL THAT H.R.H. SHOULD BE PRESENT FROM 10.30 TO 11.35. THIS IS BECAUSE IT TRANSPIRES THAT THIS ANNUAL EVENT IS TRADITIONALLY A DINNER DANCE AND WILL BE SO ON THIS OCCASION, THE FORM FOR THIS, LIKE OTHER SIMILAR FUNCTIONS IN HONG KONG WOULD BE:-

(A) 8.30 V.1.P. ARRIVES AND HAS A PRE-DINNER DRINK WITH A SELECTED GROUP

(B) 9.09 PROCESSION INTO DINNER: GOD SAVE THE QUEEN.

(C) 9.09 TO 19.30 DINNER AND FLOOR SHOW.

(D) 10.30 DANCING BEGINS.

(E) AFTER 2 OR 3 DANCES THE V I P MAY SLIP OUT ABOUT 11.30.

1

2. Ï APOLOGISE FOR ALL THIS EMERGING SO LATE (Ï HAD ASSUMED FROM THE USE OF THE WORD "BALL THAT IT WOULD BE OF THE NORMAL ENGLISH DINNERLESS VARIETY), BUT I HAVE MUCH SYMPATHY WITH THE AUXILIARIES' DISAPPOINTMENT. IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES I WOULD ADVISE H.R.H. TO ACCEPT THE FULL PROGRAMME: IN THIS CASE I WOULD CANCEL THE

DINNER AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

3. IF H.R.H, FEELS THAT THE FULL PROGRAMME IS TOO MUCH, RATHER THAN STICK TO THE PRESENT PROPOSAL OF AN APPEARANCE AT 10.33 WOULD SUGGEST THAT THE AUXILIARIES GIVE AN AFTER-DINNER RECEPTION FOR HR.H. AND CHANGE THEIR BALL TO SOME OTHER DAY,

/BROOCH.