PRIORITY
GRS 120
CYPHER CAT/A
FM HONG KONG 310300Z
CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIVED IN
REGISTRY No, 50
• 2 JUN1975
A
INKKIO
(122)
CONFIDENTIAL
TO PRIORITY F C O TELEGRAM NUMBER 545 OF 31 MAY
MIPT.
LAST
KEF.
NEXT
REF.
175
MY UNDERSTANDING HAS BEEN THAT IT IS THE WISH OF OFFICIALS AND MINISTERS TO GET THIS SETTLED BEFORE THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS (1.E. THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST). I AM BECOMING DOUBTFUL OF OUR ABILITY TO KEEP TO THIS TIMETABLE, HAVING REGARD TO THE TIME IT WILL TAKE TO DEAL WITH UNOFFICIALS HERE, THOUGH IT IS STILL JUST FEASIBLE PROVIDED WE HAVE THE DRAFT SOON.
2. IF ON RECONSIDERATION YOU THINK IT WOULD BE BETTER TO DEAL WITH THE FINAL STAGES OF THE NEGOTIATIONS AFTER THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS IT WOULD BE A GREAT HELP IF YOU WOULD SAY 60 AT ONCE, AS IT WOULD GREATLY FACILITATE THE LEAVE PLANS OF OFFICIALS HERE WHICH HAD HITHERTO BEEN BASED ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT WE WOULD HAVE HAD A DRAFT BY MID MAY AND SETTLED BY EARLY JULY.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
NK10D (4) DEFENCE D MR WILFORD
COPIES TO:
MR A JE ABRAHAM DS 6 MO 0
CONFIDENTIAL