TOP SECRET AND PERSONAL
Draft & Record
Gt. Smith St.,
20 April, 1967
38
When Kosygin visited London in February he said that he would like some kind of representation in Hong Kong to gather intelligence on China.
I expect you will be relieved to learn that Ministers have decided that Kosygin's proposal is unacceptable, not least because the Chinese would find out, interpret the admission of the Russians into Hong Kong as a very unfriendly act and would be likely to take counter-measures against the Colony.
As an alternative it is proposed to suggest to Kosygin that there should be a regular exchange of information, but not intelligence, on China. This would not, however, involve Hong Kong and would be carried out either in London or Moscow.
I have been asked to let you have this background informa- tion for your personal information and it should be handled strictly on a need-to-know basis. I am sure you will restrict this to the absolute minimum.
SIR DAVID TRENCH, K.C.M.G., M.C.
1. HALL
(H. P. Hall)
TOP SECRET AND PERSONAL