GRPS 239
PRIORITY
CYPHER/CAT A
FM HONG KONG 150T15Z
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
TO PRIORITY F C O TEL NO 1455 OF 15TH DECEMBER, 1973.
PERSONAL FOR STUART (HKIOD) FROM GOVERNOR.
M.1.P.T. : SHIPPING REGISTER.
?
161
; FKK 21/2
17.X11
2. PLEASE SEE MY PARAS 3 AND 4. I THINK WE MUST SEE THAT THIS, LARGELY PRESENTATIONAL, GAP IS FILLED QUICKLY. THIS WOULD BE SIMPLE IF ALL CONCERNED COORDINATE, COOPERATE AND SHOW INITIATIVE.
BUT
IT IS TRICKY, BECAUSE THE SHIPS ARE IN PORT FOR SUCH A SHORT SPACE OF TIME, AND THEIR DATE AND TIME OF ARRIVAL IS NOT EASY TO PREDICT LONG IN ADVANCE. PROBABLY ALL CONCERNED QUITE GENUINELY INTEND TO COOPERATE, BUT I SUSPECT WITH THE UNSPOKEN RESERVE ON THE PART OF BOTH D T I OFFICIALS AND WORLDWIDE OPERATIVES THAT THE OTHER PARTY IS THE LESSER IN STATUS AND SHOULD CONFIRM TO THEIR CONVENIENCE. THERE IS ALSO THE QUESTION OF A ROOM IN THE CONSULATE FOR THE
INTERVIEWS.
3. CAPTAIN ANDERSON OF THE D T I STRUCK ME AS A SENSIBLE AND STRAIGHTFOREWARD PERSON. MIGHT I ASK YOUR DEPARTMENT TO KEEP BOTH WORLDWIDE AND ANDERSON UP TO THE MARK AND GET. THIS DISPOSED OF.
4.
I AM MOST APOLOGETIC ABOUT HAVING TO TROUBLE YOU WITH THIS BECAUSE OUR OWN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN AT FAULT IN NOT ENSURING THAT THIS SITUATION DID NOT ARISE. YOUR TELNO 1241 WAS THE FIRST I HEARD OF IT AND BY THEN IT WAS TOO LATE. I HAVE, OF COURSE, APPLIED THE BOOT TO PAO AND ASKED HIM TO PASS IT ON TO HIS LONDON OFFICE.
5. NO DISTRIBUTION EXCEPT ON STUART'S INSTRUCTIONS.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
HEAD OF HKIOD
ED
MTD
MR YOUDE
CONFIDENTIAL