TNAG-0688-FCO40-837-Disturbances-by-police-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 31

Mr Stewart

HKK 380/16

- DEC 1977

Y

i.e

INDE

112

VISIT TO HONG KONG BY SIR ROBERT MARK

1. I spoke to him at some length on the telephone this morning. He said he had written to you but that our telephone conversation should supersede what was in his letter.

2. I fully accepted that his literary commitment precluded an early visit to Hong Kong and that we should, therefore, try and get a team from the Home Office. He suggested, subject to Sir Colin Woods' advice, that the best couple would be an Inspector called Crane, assisted by Mr Anning. He thought the two together would be ideal. He was doubtful how long Anning could be spared for but he thought that if he were present for the first three or four weeks it would get Crane off to the right start.

3. I asked him whether he would consider making a personal visit to see how these arrangements were getting on about March or April and he said that he would very gladly do this and suggested that I kept in touch with him.

4.

The immediate requirement is to fix things up for a Home Office team to go to Hong Kong in about January. I would like to announce this before Christmas and consequently arrange details with them, including terms of reference, as soon as possible.

5.

If necessary I would be available to come down to London at any time to get this on to the rails.

M.

1 December 1977