TNAG-0524-FCO40-619-Visits-of-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--to-Lo-1976 — Page 39

Mr.

Male

Sir D

Watson

Ace.

PS/Lord Goronwy-Roberts

PS

CONFIDENTIAL

67

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GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG'S VISIT TO THE UK

1.

In agreeing to the Governor's proposal to set aside the first week in December for consultations in the Office, Sir Duncan Watson told the Governor (FCO telno. 766 of 7 October) that he would let him know whether it would be possible to arrange a meeting with members of the Parliamentary Labour Party. Such a meeting was Ikks/281 most recently proposed in the Secretary of State's letter of

7 August to Mr Ian Mikardo MP.

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2.

Mr McNally, at the department's request, has been in touch with the PLP and has now heard that the Foreign Affairs Group has accepted the proposal for a meeting with the Governor. The suggested time is 5.00 p.m. on Thursday 4 December. We have told Mr McNally that we know of no other engagement for the

Fuat it is convenient Governor at this time and he is telling the Foreign Affairs Group Since Sir Duncan Watson undertook to inform the Governor, I submit

a draft telegram.

3.

When I spoke to the Private Office some time ago about

New Thuds day the Secretary of State seeing the Governor, it was thought that the

16.20

4/1

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A

best day might be Wednesday 3 December. Any meeting between the Secretary of State and the Governor ought, I think, to precede the Governor's meeting with the PLP. This points also to the Secretary of State seeing the Governor on 3 December I understand

that the Secretary of State will be in Paris on 1 and 2 December and since we are beginning to work out a programme for the Governor it would now be helpful to have a provisional time on that day or, failing that, some time on 4 December before the Governor's meeting with the PLP. I should also draw attention to an earlier suggestion

CONFIDENTIAL

/that the