SECRET - UK EYES A'
the patrol boats to the Hong Kong Government rather than continuing to operate them at their expense. This would make it clear where the responsibility lay and leave with Hong Kong the decision when to replace the boats. (All this is on the assumption that the boats could be operated by the Hong Kong police.) If this possibility is not open, then we should make clear to the Hong Kong Government that they would have to pay fully for the cost of replacing the boats as well as for their maintenance and operation.
I am sending copies of this letter to Jackson and O'Keeffe (FCO).
Jeans zinenty. དེཇ་ངམ་༤༤ས་ཡིད་སྐ
JE HANSFORD
SECRET - UK EYES 'A'