TNAG-0841-FCO40-1050-Visit-of-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--to-Chi-1979 — Page 304

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(c)

It

mentioned in paragraph 4(a) above suggest that the visit should not take place too soon. It is also possible that the Secretary of State will be visiting Hong Kong and China during the Easter recess. would clearly be inappropriate for the Governor's visit to coincide with this visit or take place shortly

before or after it. There is also the consideration

that by the summer the Governor will be getting near the end of his term and for purely practical reasons may find it difficult to get away. All this points to a date in the late spring, perhaps in May, but there is no need to fix the timing now. We should wait at least until the Secretary of State's plans are

clearer.

Public Presentation

In his letter of 15 December the Governor argues that provided a visit is properly explained to the press, opinion in Hong Kong would be more likely to be reassured than otherwise, particularly if he were received at high level in Peking. I am sure this is right. But it will still be necessary to consider whether, and if so in what terms, the visit should be

announced beforehand as well as what should be said to

the press after the Governor's return. We will need

the Governor's views on this.

Recommendation

5.

6.

7.

I therefore recommend that:

(a) we should authorise the Governor to accept the

invitation in principle;

(b) the timing should be left open for the time being; (c) briefing should be considered very carefully nearer

the time.

I submit a draft telegram accordingly.

This recommendation is in line with the Governor's own

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