GPS 200 PRIORITY
CYPHER/CAT A
FM HONG KONG 2406002
SECRET
REGISTRY No.52
SECRET
RECEIVED IN
LAST
(258)
262
NEXI
24 DEC 1974 NEXIO
REF.
10
260
2600
TO PRIORITY FCO TELNO 1274 OF 24 DECEMBER 1974
FOR STUART FROM ROBERTS
DEFENCE REVIEW
(25)
YOUR TELNOS 1117 AND 1121 OF 20 DECEMBER.
THE VISIT OF THE TEAM OF OFFICIALS PROPOSED FOR THE 6TH TO 10TH JANUARY WOULD BE INCONVENIENT BUT ACCEPTABLE TO US, PROVIDED THAT DISCUSSION IS LIMITED TO THE MATTERS DESCRIBED IN PARAS. 6(A) AND 6(B) OF TELNO 1117.
WE SHALL BE AT A CONSIDERABLE DISADVANTAGE IN DISCUSSING THESE MATTERS BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT AS YET RECEIVED THE INFORMATION REQUESTED IN OUR TELNO 1262 OF 18TH DECEMBER. PLEASE ADVISE BAG NUMBER AND DATE OF DEPARTURE. IT MAY THEREFORE BE NECESSARY TO RESUME THIS PART OF THE DISCUSSIONS AT A LATER DATE WHEN WE HAVE HAD ADEQUATE TIME TO CONSIDER IN DETAIL THE INFORMATION REFERRED TO ABOVE..
I AM AFRAID THAT WE WILL NOT BE IN A POSITION TO DISCUSS THE MATTERS DESCRIBED IN PARAS. 6(C) AND 6(D) OF YOUR TELNO 1117 IN
JANUARY.
PARA, 6(D) DEPENDS UPON PARA. 6(C). WE SHALL NOT BE ABLE TO ASSESS THE HONG KONG BUDGETARY SITUATION FULLY UNTIL THE BEGINNING. OF FEBRUARY AT THE EARLIEST. AS THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY WILL DELIVER HIS BUDGET SPEECH ON 26TH FEBRUARY, I SUGGEST THAT DISCUSSIONS ON PARAS. 6(C) AND 6(D) SHOULD BE POSTPONED UNTIL THE FIRST WEEK IN MARCH.
THE CBF HAS CONFIRMED THAT HE WILL ARRANGE ACCOMMODATION FOR
THE TEAM.
WITH REGARD TO THE LAST SENTENCE OF PARA. 5 OF TELNO 1121, BLACK TIES WILL ONLY BE REQUIRED BY THOSE MEMBERS OF THE TEAM WHO WISH TO ATTEND A FUNERAL. THIS CAN OF COURSE BE ARRANGED,
ROBERTS
FILES
HD/HKIOD
SIR D WATSON
MR WILFORD
MR THOMSON MR MALE
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