TNAG-0374-FCO40-420-Discussions-with-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 61

CONFIDENTIAL

'A'

VISITS TO HONG KONG

DUKE & DUCHESS OF KENT

1. The Duke and Duchess of Kent will be going to Japan for

the official opening on 21 September of the British Export

Marketing Centre in Tokyo. They will be passing through Hong

Kong briefly in transit on their return from Tokyo to the

United Kingdom on 26 September. Their Royal Highnesses' private

secretary has discussed arrangements with the Chief of Protocol

in Hong Kong.

MR ROYLE

2. Mr Royle will wish to express his personal regrets to the

Governor that he has had to cancel his visit for the time being,

in view of parliamentary business. We have already informed the

Governor by telephone and have sent a telegram to Hong Kong.

PRIME MINISTER

3. Mr Heath is likely to pay a short visit to Hong Kong on his

return from his official visit to China. The time proposed for

this visit is the first two weeks in January, but the exact dates

await confirmation by the Chinese Government. Lord Bridges at

No 10 will be speaking to the Governor about the arrangements for

the Prime Minister's visit to Hong Kong.

ROYAL VISIT

4. We may receive the formal invitation from the Japanese

Government during the forthcoming visit by the Japanese Prime

Minister and the State visit to Japan (using Her Majesty's yacht Britannia) could well take place in the second half of May 1975.

If such a visit is arranged, it would of course only seem sensible

for a call at Hong Kong to be arranged.

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CONFIDENTIAL