TNAG-2230-FCO40-3202-Visits-by-David-Wilson--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--to-the-UK-and-1991 — Page 50

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE THE HAGUE

TELNO 4

OF 281122Z FEBRUARY 91

INFO PRIORITY FCO, BRUSSELS

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PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR FROM GOVERNOR

BRUSSELS FOR WILLIAMSON

MY VISIT TO THE NETHERLANDS: MARCH 1991

1. WE HAVE JUST BEEN TOLD BY THE DUTCH CONSUL-GENERAL THAT QUEEN BEATRIX WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR ME TO CALL ON HER AT NOON ON WEDNESDAY 13 MARCH BUT THAT SHE WOULD NOT BE FREE ON THURSDAY 14 MARCH.

2. THIS CAME AS A SURPRISE. WE DID NOT REALISE THAT A CALL ON QUEEN BEATRIX WAS STILL BEING CONSIDERED BY THE DUTCH GOVERNMENT.

3. UNFORTUNATELY, THE TIME OFFERED IS SIMPLY NOT POSSIBLE. I HAVE AN INESCAPABLE COMMITMENT OF SOME MONTHS STANDING TO OPEN THE HONG KONG PAVILION AT A MAJOR CEBIT EXHIBITION IN HANNOVER AT 100 HOURS ON WEDNESDAY 13 MARCH, TO BE FOLLOWED AT 1230 HOURS BY A LUNCH RECEPTION. THIS IS THE ORIGINAL REASON FOR MY VISIT TO EUROPE ON THIS OCCASION. AS YOU KNOW, I AM SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE IN THE NETHERLANDS AT 1545.

4. THIS IS ALL A GREAT SHAME. I AM GREATLY HONOURED BY THE SUGGESTION OF AN AUDIENCE WITH QUEEN BEATRIX. I WOULD DEARLY LIKE TO ACCEPT AND CERTAINLY DO NOT WISH TO DO ANYTHING TO OFFEND. WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO INITIATE SOME DISCRETE SOUNDINGS AND ADVISE HOW I CAN BEST RESPOND TO THIS INVITATION WITHOUT

CAUSING OFFENCE?

WILSON

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