TNAG-0524-FCO40-619-Visits-of-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--to-Lo-1976 — Page 50

CONFIDENTIAL

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WKK

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near/Wate

Sir uncan Watson

GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG'S LEAVE AND VISIT TO LONDON

1. Since Mr O'Keeffe is away sick today, I have pursued action on the Governor's telegram no 978 of 1 October, bearing in mind your

manuscript note on the advance copy.

2.

The Governor has expressed a preference for the week beginning 1 December for his consultations (or main consultations) in the Office.

As regards his alternative suggestion, the Governor, according to Hong Kong telegram no 946, would be in New York on 11 December so he

would, presumably, not be free until, say, 12 December onwards and not 10 December as mentioned in paragraph 4 of his telegram. The question of the Governor's going to Washington while in the United States is still outstanding (Washington telegram no 470, on which we are awaiting the Governor's reaction), but I do not think a decision on that is

necessary before a reply is sent to his telegram no 978.

3. In fact it looks as though the week beginning 1 December will do

very well.

The Private Office tell me that the Secretary of State,

who will presumably wish to see the Governor, will be in Paris on

1 and 2 December and will have the Swedish Foreign Minister around during

the later part of the week. However, they see no insuperable difficulty

at this stage about making time for a meeting with the Governor. The

best day may be Wednesday, 3 December. Mr Galsworthy tells me that

Lord Goronwy-Roberts is expected to be in the Office throughout the week in question. You have already said that your preference is for

the week of 1 December.

4. Mr Kidd telephoned today to say that he had arranged with Mr O'Keeffe

for our reply to the Governor's telegram to deal with the timing of the

already agreed Governor's off-the-record lunch with the Diplomatic

Correspondents' Association and certain other points connected with it. He said that 26, 27 November, 4, 8 and 9 December were all convenient

to the Association, provided they had fourteen days' notice. Since

4 December falls within the week which is emerging as the best time

for the Governor to come into the Office, I have agreed with Mr Kidd

that we would ask the Governor to confirm that it is convenient to him.

CONFIDENTIAL

/5.

Mr Galsworthy