TNAG-1473-FCO40-2004-Visits-by-MPs-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 10

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ridiculous to think that we would jeopardize our good relations with the Committee by playing dirty tricks behind their backs. I beleive Mr Rogers was eventually swung in our favour, but he was not happy that he could convince the Committee that we had been innocent parties to the tangle they now faced.

4. Concerning the programme, Mr Rogers said that the Committee were willing to drop the Philippines from their itinerary, as they understood American sensitivities over a visit at the present time. Secretary Lehman has now said that US transport will be provided from Oman to Diego Garcia, and from Diego Garcia to Hong Kong. They will then proceed to Guam and Honolulu. A provisional programme (in the Committee's eyes) may be:

24-28 November Oman

29-30 November Diego Garcia

1-6 December Hong Kong

6-8 December Guam 9-11 December Honolulu

I did not comment on this timetable.

5. Finally, Mr Rogers asked what our understanding was of the next action to be taken. Sir Humphrey was not sure at the end of the meeting with the Secretary of State whether we had undertaken to shake some action out of the Americans. I said that it had been left that the Committee would seek to clarify Secretary Lehman's attitude, but that we would as a matter of course be reporting what Sir Humphrey had said to our Embassy (I had not at this stage seen FCO tel 1722 to Washington).

Mr Rogers undertook to get in touch with Secretary Lehman's office and to let us know what transpires.

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Haum Robin

Helen Robins