TNAG-0845-FCO40-1055-Visits-of-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-officials-to-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 212

PS/Mr Blaker

Mr Blaker's Travel Plans

3

The Secretary of State is a little concerned at the length of Mr Blaker's proposed absence from the office in September: Mr Marten, Mr Luce and the Secretary of State himself will be away between 16 September and the end of the month, and the Lord Privy Seal will be absent on some days during this period. He also feels that there is a danger of over-playing the emphasis we give to the ASEAN countries and Hong Kong and of risking being drawn into further difficulties over Vietnamese refugees. Lord Carrington doubts, moreover,

whether there is

any need for a Ministerial visit to Malaysia or Singapore given the number of recent contacts with these governments.

Lord Carrington would therefore prefer Mr Blaker's visit to be confined to Thailand, Indonesia, Brunei and the New Hebrides.

Lord Carrington has also asked whether Mr Blaker has it in mind to pay visits to Eastern Europe during the rest of this year.

I have

thes

hold Mr Lever

hand

Paul

\aul Láza

(P Lever)

30 July 1979