Mr. T. J. O'Brien,
Financial Policy & Aid Department
Thank you.
MF. 9/26
HKK. 6/548/6.
١٩
I am glad Sir J. Cowperthwaite
is aware of Patterson's talks here.
2.
I remain unhappy about the original use of Hannam as a channel to obtain this information.
He nas no general representational function in Hong Kong, if one excepts the recent slight enlargement of the Trade Commission's role in the field of
information. Further enlargement of the Commission's
functions would tend to be inconsistent with the
constitutional position of the territory and could have undesirable political repercussions.
3.
Constitutionally we can seek information such as you require direct from the Hong Kong Government and I see no reason why you should not yourself correspond direct with Sir John Cowperthwaite on this subject if you need to pursue it further.
25 February, 1969
(. S. Carter)
Hong Kong Department
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