}
(222)
GRS 302
EN CLAIR
FM HONGKONG 220800Z
UNCLASSIFIED
TO ROUTINE FCO TEL BTC 151 OF 22 NOV.
1973
STERLING
HKK5/1
TOP COMT
PA
1521
w/212
Z
HEAD STORY IN BUSINESS SECTION OF TO-DAY'S SCNP REPORTS H.K. GOVERN→
HENT'S "ANGRY REBUTTAL TO A SERIES OF AMAZING ALLEGATIONS LEVELLED
AGAINST THE COLONY' IN THE OPEN FILE' COLUMN OF THE GUARDIAN
w212) OF 14 NOVEMBER UNDER HEADLINE YELLOW STREAK'', IT CLAIMS THAT
"A LETTER HAS BEEN DRAFTED HERE AND TELEXED FOR THE SIGNATURE
OF THE H.K.G. COMMISSIONER IN LONDON INVITING THE GUARDIAN TO
PUBLISH THE FOLLOWING REMARKS:-
"APART FROM THE MOST MISLEADING IMPRESSION OF HONGKONG CONVEYED
BY THE RIOTPRONE AND CORRUPTION-PRONE TAUNTS, AND YOUR PECULIAR
INTERPRETATION OF WHERE AUTHORITY LIES IN HONGKONG, THERE ARE TWO
PARTICULAR POINTS IN YOUR COLUMN WHICH CALL FOR COMMENT. FIRST:
THE PHRASE ''YELLOW STREAK, WHATEVER IT IS MEANT TO CONVEY, 15
MOST OFFENSIVE. SECONDLY WE DO NOT KNOW THE SOURCE OF YOUR ALLEGA-
TION THAT HONGKONG HAS THREATENED TO SWITCH ITS MONEY OUT OF STERLING
3-хи
4
"THIS IS A LIE DUE, EITHER TO HALICE OR IGNORANCE, AND NEITHER DOES
YOUR NEWSPAPER CREDIT THUNDERED THE OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT LETTER,
I
# 1
''
THE REPORT REFERS TO THE 'FURY OF TOP OFFICIALS HERE ENGAGED
IN THE MOST DELICATE NEGOTIATIONS'' WITH H.N.G. OVER REQUEST TO
DIVERSIFY FUNDS.
/ THE
}