CONFIDENTIAL
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Л
London S.W.1
светель
15 December 1971
151)
Movin
PW Ridley Esq
Department of Trade & Industry
Millbank Tower
Millbank
SW1
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#36
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1. I entirely agree with the comment in your letter of 9 December that we should not duplicate channels of communication when dealing with Hong Kong. However, I should point out that what we did on 8 December was not duplication.
2.
As you know, we were then faced with a very narrow timescale. We had only 30 minutes following agreement between Sir John Eden and Mr Royle on amendments to your letter to Haddon-Cave in which to pass the agreed text to him before leaving for London Airport. In that time, because of your many other preoccupations, we were unable to contact you, although we did so soon after and well before Haddon-Cave actually cleared London.
3. With more time in hand at the resumed talks, I am sure we shall not be faced with similar difficulties.
Сс Mr Laird
Mr Wilford
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CONFIDENTIAL
HE J Hale
Commodities Department