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IS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF
RITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT )
CMV(67)5
Date 8th June 1967
COPY NO
SPARE.
VISITS OF COMMONWEALTH MINISTERS TO DISCUSS FAR EAST
DEFENCE, JUNE 1967
ह
Hong Kong
The Prime Minister has indicated that he would prefer to express
his appreciation personally to Mr. Holt for the action taken by the
Australians in recent wheat negotiations with China in support of our
position in Hong Kong (Commonwealth Office telegram No.1149 to Canberra).
This would be a suitable starting point for any discussion on Hong Kong,
The exchanges with the Australians on this question indicate that they
will in this context ask about our policy on trade with China if the
Chinese continue to make trouble for us in the Colôny.
2.
They will also be interested in our assessm nt of:-
(a) the present situation in the Colony;
(b) future Chinese intentions towards it;
(c) our prospects of maintaining our position
thero.
3.
In the context of the discussions about reductions in our Far
Eastern forces, the Australians are bound to ask about the strength of
the military forces we intend to keep in Hong Kong.
Talking Points
1.
Trade
We are most appreciative of the Australian action in holding
up the conclusion of the agreement to export 2 million tons of wheat to
China, at a time when the disturbances in Hong Kong were at their height.
We did not in any way want to frustrate the deal, but we did think there
would be some advantage in holding up the signature of the agreement
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