TNAG-0524-FCO40-619-Visits-of-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--to-Lo-1976 — Page 44

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Mr McNally

GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG'S VISIT TO THE UK

1. I attach copies of Hong Kong telegrams number 978 and 1002 and FCO telegram number 766 about the Governor's plans for his visit to the UK later this year.

2. The week beginning 1 December has emerged as the best time for the Governor's consultations in the office though he has also offered to make himself available, if required, on 13-14 November (in connection with the defence cost negot- iations) and on 12-13 January. The idea that the Secretary of State might be able to see the Governor on Wednesday, 3 December was included in PCO telegram number 766 on the strength of a conference I had last week with Mr Holt.

3. Subject to your advice, I shall be grateful if you could now begin to pursue the idea of the Governor meeting members of the Parliamentary Labour Party during his visit (final paragraph of the Secretary of State's letter of 7 August to Mr Ian Mikardo MP and paragraph 3 of PCO telegram number 766, refers). There is also the related question of the Governor's meeting representatives of the TUC, (final paragraph of the Secretary of State's letter of 18 September to Mr Len Murray refer).

4. As to timing, it would clearly suit the Governor best if meetings with the PLP and TUC could be arranged during the first week of December. I imagine that the Secretary of State himself will wish to see the Governor and I note from his letter to Mr Mikardo that he said he would be willing to take the Governor along to a meeting with members of the PLP. These considerations seem to me to point to the Secretary of State's seeing the Governor before the meeting with the PLP. If it were possible for the Secretary of State to see the Governor on 3 December - and it would clearly be helpful in planning the Governor's programme if we could now have a reasonably firm time - it would appear that Thursday, 4 December or Friday, 5 December would do for a meeting with members of the PLP, subject of course to their convenience. (So far the Governor's only firm commitment on these days is for a lunch with the Diplomatic Correspondents' Association on 4 December). It would be an economical use of the Governor's time if the meeting with the PLP and TUC could be combined. I appreciate, however, that that may not be desirable on other grounds or even a prac- ticable arrangement.

13 October 1975

D.f. Mullin

D F MILTON

Hong Kong and Indian Ocean

Department

(K 246 MA 171)