CONFIDENTIAL
7. In the longer term I believe we should aim to deal with
points of friction quickly as they arise and before they have
become questions of public debate and conflict in Hong Kong. Again
this requires cooperation with the Hong Kong Government at the
personal level.
8.
Mr Aston's solutions would work against this policy. I believe
we should not adopt them unless all else fails. If this means that
in public in the meantime the British case is under represented in Hong Kong,
Lin
I believe this is the necessary consequence of supporting the
Governor whom we have appointed.
w/n
9.
I submit a draft interim reply to Sir Patrick Reilly
accordingly.
14 November 1973
CC
Mr Wilford
Chief Clerk
Mr Reddaway/GIFD Mr Marshall Mr Lamb/PPD FED
дез
A C Stuart
Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept.
L
Chief Clerk
1. We discussed the draft which Mr Stuart submitted with
his minute of 14 November in reply to Sir Patrick Reilly's comments on Hong Kong. You thought that it went rather too
far in the direction of supporting the Governor rather than Mr Aston and that this might be avoided if it could be shortened somewhat. In the light of our conversation I have tried my
hand at a revised draft and would be grateful to know whether
you think that this would meet the case better.
21 November 1973
CONFIDENTIAL
Youde