PRIORITY
CYPHER/CAT A
CONFIDENTIAL
GRPS 624
FM HONG KONG 150350Z
53
CONFIDENTIAL
MY TELEGRAM NUMBER 1335 :
TO PRIORITY F C O TEL NO 1452 OF 15TH DECEMBER, 1973.
108
TOP COF¥
103
5.3
PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO HONG KONG.
REC. MOLI
10 DECATS
HKK3/5=8/7
WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS OR QUESTIONS:
(A) DURING THE TRANSIT STOP WE PROPOSE THAT THE AIRCRAFT SHOULD COME TO THE ORDINARY APRON OPPOSITE THE TERMINAL AND THE P.M. AND PART WALK TO THE V.I.P. SUITE. I AND THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, PLUS ONE OR TWO BUT NOT MORE, WOULD MEET. NO PRESS INTERVIEWS BUT PHOTOGRAPHS AS PARTY WALKS IN. LI CHU-SENG, HEAD OF N.C.N.A.. AND UNOFFICIAL CHINESE REPRESENTATIVE, WILL CERTAINLY WISH TO PAY HIS RESPECTS AS THE P.M. LEAVES. THE FOREGOING WOULD BE NORMAL LOCAL FORM. ALTERNATIVELY THE AIRCRAFT COULD GO TO THE APROX INSIDE THE R.A.F. SECURITY PERIMETER, WHERE THE PRESS AND PUBLIC WOULD BE COMPLETELY EXCLUDED. BUT IN ANY CASE LI SHOULD BE PRESENTED. THE LATTER PROCEDURE WOULD PROVOKE SPECULATION ABOUT A 'SECURITY BLACK- OUT', AND ACCOMMODATION IS NOT SO GOOD, BUT THIS WOULD NOT MATTER IF THE PRIME MINISTER PARTICULARLY WANTS PRIVACY. WHICH WOULD HE
PREFER?
(B)
DOES THE PRIME MINISTER ACCEPT MY SUGGESTION THAT CHARLES
LOW'S PARTY ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR 4.00-4.30 ON SUNDAY AT THE
YACHT CLUB BE TURNED INTO A SUPPER PARTY AFTER THE CONCERT? THIS
WOULD ENABLE LOW'S PARTY NOT TO BE AFFECTED BY THE TIME THE BOAT RETURNS, AND ALSO TO REMAIN FREE FROM ENTANGLEMENT WITH ANYTHING THAT DEVELOPS AT THE YACHT CLUB AFTER SAILING.
(C) FOR THE HELICOPTER FLIGHT ON MONDAY 14TH. JANUARY, WE PROPOSEO CANCEL THE SHORT STOP WHICH WE THINK WOULD WASTE TIME. THE PRIME MINISTER CAN BE BRIEFED AS EASILY IN THE HELICOPTER.
(D) I HOPE THE PRIME MINISTER WILL STAY AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE. IF SO WE COULD PUT UP FIVE OTHERS AS WELL. WHO SHOULD THEY BE? THE REST WILL STAY AT THE HILTON.
(E) OFFICIALS AT MEETINGS. I SUGGEST
CONFIDENTIAL
/(A) EXECUTIVE COUNCIL:
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