TNAG-0845-FCO40-1055-Visits-of-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-officials-to-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 24

Mr Murray

Mr Hunter, PSD

FAMILIARISATION VISIT

RESTRICTED

Нек

226

h

LLAVED IN EASY NO. 51 16 OCT 1979

No

Pawinglie

1. As you know, my firsthand experience of the countries for which I shall be responsible as Mr Samuel's successor in Far Eastern Department is either out of date or non-existent.

I have not been in China for 10 years, and I have never visited Japan, Korea and Mongolia (though I was Korea desk officer in FED for a short time in 1962). I should therefore find it very helpful to pay an early visit to my new parish.

2. You mentioned to me that the Lord Privy Seal had offered to take the new Head of Far Eastern Department with him when he visits Japan next month. I have spoken to his Private Secretary who has confirmed that Sir I Gilmour would be content for me to accompany him. I should very much like to do this, and to take the opportunity to return via Seoul, Peking and Hong Kong (I would leave Ulan Bator for another occasion).

3. Sir I Gilmour is due to leave London on 19 November and to remain in Tokyo until 24 November (he then goes on to New Zealand). On Mr Samuel's advice I should like to spend 2 working days in Korea, 5 days in Peking and 1-2 days in Hong Kong. I have not yet worked out an exact itinerary, nor of course have I consulted the posts concerned, but it ought to be possible to complete the trip in around 2 weeks. On that basis I would be back in the Office at the end of the week beginning 3 December.

4.

I had earlier warned Mr Hunter of the possibility that I might pay a further trip to Hong Kong (as Head of HKGD) this autumn. Mr Clift will no doubt want to pay an early visit, but since he will not be taking over the department until 10 December I doubt whether it will be feasible for him to go much before February. So my transfer to FED will in effect "save" a trip to Hong Kong.

Rurungven

16 October 1979

R JT McLaren

Hong Kong and General Department

RESTRICTED

}