TNAG-1741-FCO40-2457-Visits-by-Sir-David-Wilson--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--to-the-UK-1988 — Page 101

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LEVEL VISITS, BUT MISS BAILES WILL BE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES AND PIGOTT

ON MID-TOUR LEAVE AND WE HAVE JUST HEARD FROM HONG KONG THAT ANY OFFICER THEY SEND AS A TEMPORARY REPLACEMENT FOR HIM IS UNLIKELY TO

ARRIVE BEFORE THE MIDDLE OF THE MONTH. THE COMMERCIAL COUNSELLOR

AND FIRST SECRETARY (EXTERNAL) IN CHANCERY WILL ALSO BE ABSENT. IN

THESE CIRCUMSTANCES A VISIT OF SUCH IMPORTANCE FROM HONG KONG WOULD PUT THE REMAINING STAFF UNDER VERY GREAT STRAIN. I WONDER, THEREFORE, IF THE CHIEF SECRETARY COULD CONSIDER POSTPONING AT LEAST

THE PEKING LEG OF HIS TRIP UNTIL A DATE IN JULY OR THEREAFTER? I SEE NO PROBLEM WITH THE IDEA OF A VISIT TO SICHUAN.

EVANS

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MINIMAL

HKD

N N N N

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