CONFIDENTIAL
055147
MDHOAN 5010
NEARER THE TIME. I AM PERSONALLY ATTRACTED BY THE IDEA THAT A HONG KONG EMISSARY SHOULD HAPPEN TO PASS THROUGH LONDON. I AGREE THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE AN OFFICIAL OR YOURSELF. LYDIA DUNN WOULD BE IDEAL (IN FACT I CAN THINK OF NO ONE ELSE REALLY SUITABLE): I HAVE HEARD FROM SEVERAL QUARTERS THAT WHEN SHE TOOK OVER YOUR PLANNED
MEETING WITH MPS IN OCTOBER SHE MADE A VERY GOOD IMPRESSION. IT WOULD HOWEVER BE ESSENTIAL THAT HER VISIT TO LONDON SHOULD SEEM FORTUITOUS, AND NOT TOO CLOSELY LINKED TO THE DEBATE. THERE
COULD BE PROBLEMS OF TIMING HERE: IN ORDER TO DEAL WITH THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE DEBATE MIGHT TAKE PLACE ON 20 JANUARY IT WOULD BE BEST FOR HER TO COME AND GO IN THE WEEK BEGINNING 11 JANUARY.
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IT MUST BE FOR MINISTERS TO DECIDE WHETHER A VISIT BY LYDIA DUNN WOULD BE BENEFICIAL, OR IF IT MIGHT INSTEAD BE PERCEIVED IN PARLIAMENTARY TERMS AS PANIC OR OVERKILL THE MATTER WILL BE RAISED INFORMALLY BETWEEN FCO MINISTERS LATER IN THE WEEK. I SHALL LET YOU KNOW WHETHER IN PRINCIPLE A VISIT WOULD BE WELCOME: IN THE MEANTIME YOU MIGHT WISH TO SOUND LYDIA OUT IN CONFIDENCE.
HOWE
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ΜΑΙΝ
LIMITED
HKD
PRU
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17
DISTRIBUTION
17
MR GILLMORE
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