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8. WHILE I WOULD DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO FACILITATE SUCH A PROCEDURE, I MUST ASK YOU TO HELP FROM YOUR SIDE BY INSISTING THAT
THE ANGLO-ITALIAN CONSORTIUM CONFORM WITH IT. ! GAIN THE IMPRESSION THAT THEY BELIEVE H.M.G.'S SUPPORT ABSOLVES THEM OF ANY OBLIGATION TO MEET HONG KONG'S REQUIREMENTS AS TO FORM OR TIMING IN THE WAY THE JAPANESE HAVE DONE. THE ONLY WAY THE CONSORTIUM CAN NOW RETRIEVE
THE SITUATION IS BY SENDING OUT A TEAM IMMEDIATELY. IN THIS CONNECTION SEE THE LAST PARAGRAPH OF M. 1.F.T.
9. PICCAGLI WILL BE IN HONG KONG THIS WEEK ANYWAY. I SUGGEST THAT IF HE WERE JOINED BY KINDERSLEY AND WILTSHIRE AND SOMEONE TO SPEAK FOR THE 25 PRE CENT U.K. SLICE OF CIVIL ENGIN- EERING I AM PRETTY CONFIDENT SOMETHING COULD BE WORKED OUT IN TWO OR THREE DAYS THAT WOULD MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF PARAGRAPH 7 ABOVE. IF THEY ARE NOT PREPARED TO MAKE SUCH AN EFFORT, FOR MY PART I DESPAIR OF BEING ABLE TO HELP ANY FURTHER.
10. TEXT OF LETTER IN REPLY TO THAT OF SIR DOUGLAS CLAGUE IS IN
M.I.F.T.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
HKIOD
PS/MR ROYLE
SIR D WATSON MR YOUDE
COPIES TO:
PS/SECRETARY OF STATE DTI
MR D N ROYCE DTI
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