IMMEDIATE
CYPHER CAT / A
FM HONG KONG 220120Z
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
TO IMMEDIATE F.C.0. TELEGRAM NO. 343 OF 22 MAY 1971
PERSONAL FOR MONSON FROM GOVERNOR.
LAST
KEF.
YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 383 TO ME.
KLF.
५०
P.Y.TANG.
IT IS LIKELY TO BE VERY NEARLY THE END OF MAY BEFORE YOUR LETTER REACHES HERE, AND GIVEN THE TIME THEN TAKEN TO DEAL WITH TANG, IT VIRTUALLY MEANS I WOULD BE UNLIKELY TO BE ABLE TO MAKE ANY PROGRESS ON THE DEFENCE CONTRIBUTION BEFORE I LEAVE, WHICH SEEMS TO ME IMPORTANT IF IT CAN BE ACHIEVED. MOREOVER, YOUR REPLY IS NOT LIKELY TO MAKE TANG MORE AMENABLE.
2. BUT IN ANY CASE, NOW THAT I HAVE HEARD FROM YOU, I CANNOT VERY WELL PRETEND THAT I HAVE NOT WITHOUT TELLING UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS A DIRECT UNTRUTH, I SHALL CERTAINLY BE ASKED IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON TUESDAY,
3. I DO NOT BELIEVE TANG IS EXPECTING ANY VERY EARLY OR FAVOURABLE REPLY SEMICOLON BUT MERELY HOPES THAT SOMETHING MAY BE POSSIBLE EVENTUALLY. IT WOULD THEREFORE SEEM TO ME TACTICALLY BETTER TO HOLD OFF YOUR MESSAGE TO TANG UNTIL A MORE PROPITIOUS MOMENT AND LET ME NOW TAKE ACTION TO SEE IF I CANNOT COME BACK WITH SOME KIND
OF A PROPOSITION ON THE DEFENCE CONTRIBUTION,
4. GRATEFUL FOR VERY EARLY REPLY.
TRENCH
FILES
ΕΙΚΟ
PS/MR ROYLE SIND NONJUN MR MILFORD
RECOVED IN REGISTRY No.51
28mm 1971
ALL 12
CONFIDENTIAL