PRIORITY
CYPHER/CAT A
FM HONG KONG 223453Z
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REF.
4.2
TO PRIORITY FCO TELNO 73 OF 22 JANUARY.
M.1.P.T.
FOR WILFORD
36
TOP Curi
RECEIVED IN
RGSTRY No. 51
2..
A 1972
AKX6/548/1
SEVERAL OF THE MORE EXPERIENCED MEMBERS OF THE TEXTILE ADVISORY
BOARD WERE STILL AWAY, AND THE BOARD WAS SOMEWHAT DOMINATED BY
GORDON'S BLUSTER. A FULL BOARD COULD NOT BE ASSEMBLED FOR
ANOTHER WEEK OR 10 DAYS.
2. BUT AS I SEE IT THE BASIC DIFFICULTY IS NOT SO MUCH PERSONALITIES
AS THE INADEQUACY OF THE DTI OFFER. WHILE I APPLAUD HADDON-CAVE'S
PUBLIC SPIRITED ATTEMPT, FOR THE SAKE OF PEACE, TO SELL IT TO THE DELEGATION, THIS DOES NOT ALTER THE FACT OF ITS INADEQUACY.
3. ONCE THE FULL BOARD IS AVAILABLE THERE IS A FAIR CHANCE THAT
THE MATTER COULD BE DISPOSED OF IF THE DTI WERE PREPARED TO GO
HALF WAY TO THE POSITION SET OUT IN MY IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING
TELEGRAM, BUT LITTLE UNLESS THEY DO.
4. IF YOU CAN LET ME HAVE AN IMPROVED OFFER WITHIN A WEEK
THERE WOULD STILL BE TIME TO GO BACK TO THE BOARD AND GET THIS
SETTLED BEFORE THE S OF S VISIT.PENDING CUR RESPONSE NO DEFINITIVE
ACTION WILL BE TAKEN IN EX-CO.
FCO PASS COPY TO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON,
MACLEHOSE
FILES
HKD
COMMOD D
P3
PS TO MR RCYLE
MR BOTTOMLEY
CIR L MONSON MR WILFORD MK KLEBLE
COPIES TO:
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE,
54 PALL MALL, SW1
CONFIDENTIAL