TNAG-0373-FCO40-419-Visits-of-members-of-the-Hong-Kong-Urban-Council-to-the-UK-1973 — Page 99

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TO PRIORITY FCO TELNO 726 OF 5 JULY/INFO HONG KONG COVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON (FCO PLEASE PASS).

PROPOSED SPONSORED VISIT BY MEMBERS OF THE URBAN COUNCIL TO THE

UNITED KINGDOM.

PARAGRAPH 3 OF MY TELEGRAM 766 DATED 24 AUGUST 1972 CONFIRMED THAT THE URBAN COUNCIL HAD BEEN INFORMED OF YOUR INTENTION TO INVITE THREE OR FOUR OF ITS MEMBERS FOR A VISIT THIS SUMMER.

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2. THE URBAN COUNCIL HAS NOW ASKED WHETHER IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR THIS VISIT TO TAKE PLACE IN SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER, FOR A PERIOD NOT EXCEEDING TEN DAYS. AS MOST MEMBERS OF THE URBAN COUNCIL ARE ALSO BUSINESSMENT WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO BE AWAY FROM THEIR OFFICES FOR LONG PERIODS, I THINK A TEN DAY MAXIMUM IS REASONABLE. GRATEFUL TO KNOW WHETHER THIS WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE TO YOU AND, IF SO, WHETHER A FORMAL INVITATION WILL BE ISSUED (THIS WOULD BE APPRECIATED).

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3. ON THE PROGRAMME FOR THE VISIT, I CONSIDER THAT THIS SHOULD FOCUS ON THE TYPES OF FUNCTIONS WHICH ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, E.G., PUBLIC CLEANSING, CONTROL OF FOOD PREMISES, RECREATION AND AMENITIES, AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS, AND THAT THE PARTY'S CONTACTS SHOULD BE BASICALLY WITH LOCAL AUTHORITIES. (PARAGRAPH 7 OF MY TELEGRAM 659 DATED 21 JULY 1972 REFERS).

4. HOWEVER, THE VISITING COUNCILLORS ARE UNLIKELY TO BE CONTENT WITH LOCAL AUTHORITY MATTERS ONLY AND THE COUNCIL HAS IN FACT SUGGESTED A MEETING WITH THE HONG KONG PARLIAMENTARY GROUP. I SEE NO REASON TO OBJECT TO THIS, BUT IF SUCH A MEETING IS INCLUDED IN THE PROGRAMME, WE SHALL ENDEAVOUR TO DISCOVER WHAT SUBJECTS THE VISITORS ARE LIKELY TO RAISE AND BRIEF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE GROUP (MR JOHN TILNEY) THROUGH YOU BEFOREHAND.

5. THE COUNCIL HAS ALSO EXPRESSED A WISH THAT THE PROGRAMME SHOULD INCLUDE A MEETING WITH OFFICERS OF THE FCO: A VISIT TO THE OFFICES

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