is now awaited.
7. I think we must treat the letter as a petition and our
reply to it should accordingly be routed through the Governor.
I attach both a draft reply to the letter and a draft saving
despatch to the Governor. I have drafted in this form on
the assumption that Mr Royle would prefer the Federation to
receive a reply specifically from his office rather than that
we should ask the Governor to reply to them on his behalf.
27 July 1971
2.
EMarin
E O Laird
Hong Kong Department
(145181) Dd. 737490 750M 1/71 Hw.