TNAG-0843-FCO40-1053-Visit-of-Lord-Carrington--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-1979 — Page 149

Mr Williams 1.5

msony

Mr Quantll

UNCLASSIFIED

Reference...

Нико2615

RECEIVED WENC

UN 'S

18.21

(31)

Mr McLaren

DESK OPICER MIDEX

1

PA

INVITATION TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FROM FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS CLUB

FLAG A.

1. Mr Paul, the President of the Foreign Correspondents Club of Hong Kong, has invited Lord Carrington to give a luncheon address at the Club should be visit Hong Kong in the future. The Private Office has asked for a draft reply.

2. This is the sort of invitation, from a responsible body of local and foreign journalists, which we would probably wish Ministers to entertain. However, in the past, the pressures on Ministers' timetables have left no scope for accepting such invitations.

3. I attach a draft recommendation that the Private Secretary acknowledges the invitation but advises Mr Paul that it is unlikely that the Secretary of State will be able to accept.

4. Para.5 of the draft submission suggests that we inform Hong Kong of the invitation. If you agree, I shall forward a copy of the invitation together with the PS's reply.

CODE 18-77

P I Webb

21 May 1979

Hong Kong and General Department