CYPHER/CAT A
PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 66
CONFIDENTIAL 2808452
CONFIDENTIAL
TO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
28 SEPTEMBER 1970.
66
YOUR TELNO HK54 AND ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER (COMMERCIAL) MEMO 365.
POSITION PAPER NOT YET REVISED. TIAB MEMORANDUM 12/70 WAS ISSUED
INSTEAD AS A DEPARTMENTAL BRIEF FOR THE RIPPON VISIT. WE HAVE HOWEVER
NOT YET DECIDED WHAT LINE WE SHOULD TAKE WITH HMG. IT WOULD THEREFORE
BE PREMATURE TO MAKE THAT MEMORANDUM AVAILABLE TO THE ASSOCIATION.
2. I THINK IT WOULD BE PREFERABLE FOR YOU TO SPEAK, AS YOU PROPOSE
IN PARA (5) OF YOUR LETTER OF 25 AUGUST, USING THE TIAD MEMORANDUM
AS A BASIS AND EMPHASIS ING THAT IT REPRESENTS ONLY A PRELIMINARY
ASSESSMENT, WE WOULD HOPE TO MAKE AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL COMMITTEE
OF THE ASSOCIATION A CONFIDENTIAL PAPER EXPLAINING THE OFFICIAL HONG
KONG VIEW WHEN IT HAS BEEN FORMULATED,
3. YOU SHOULD ALSO TAKE THE LINE THAT AS RIPPON HAS RECENTLY VISITED
HONG KONG AND MET OFFICIAL, COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL REPRESENTATIVES,
AS THE BRUSSELS NEGOTIATIONS ARE ONLY JUST GETTING UNDER WAY: AND AS
A CONTINUING DIALOGUE BETWEEN HONG KONG AND WHITEHALL IS ABOUT
TO RESUME: IT IS BETTER TO SAVE THE ASSOCIATION'S INFLUENCE UNTIL
THERE IS AN OBVIOUS TARGET RATHER THAN DISSIPATE IT IN A GENERAL
CAMPAIGN AT THIS STAGE. CATER THINKS YOU SEEK OUT GRIMWOOD SEPARATELY
AND SOLICIT HIS SUPPORT IN COMMITTEE FOR YOUR POSITION.
40
[ APPRECIATE YOU ARE IN A DIFFICULT POSITION BUT I HOPE YOU CAN
TEMPER THE ASSOCIATION'S ENTHUSIASM FOR ACTION UNTIL REASONABLE
ASSESSMENT IS POSSIBLE OF THE FULL POLICY IMPLICATIONS OF A
SITUATION WHICH IS NOT ONLY COMPLEX BUT IS STILL RIDDLED WITH
UNKNOWN FACTORS, NOTABLY THE FUTURE OF THE GENERALISED SCHEME.
(FCO PLEASE PASS PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON,
SIR D. TRENCH
FILES
HONG KONG DEFT MR. VILFORD
COFY TO
HONG KONG GOVT. OFFICE 54 PALL MALL, S.W.1.
P.R
на
CONFIDENTIAL
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