SECRET
UK EIES 'A'
Treasury Chambers Parliament Street London SW1P 3AG
Telephone 01-930_1234 ext
2+h
A J H Ward Esq DS6
Ministry of Defence Main Building SW1
Dear Andrew
HONG KONG
10 October 1975
Mr. Jagtorin
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Thank you for your minute of 8 October enclosing the first draft of a drink? statement to be made by your Minister of State when he addresses a joint session of the Executive and Finance Committees in Hong Kong.
We spoke about the timing of our comments, and you agreed to extend your deadline to Monday 13 October. I now attach, at Annex, a list of the changes we should like to suggest to the draft. Most of these are self- explanatory and are aimed at updating and strengthening the economic facts and comparisons. However, where we have particular points in mind, a short explanation of the changes proposed is given.
We are not clear why it is assumed that these particular proceedings will be a matter of public record. It will clearly be desirable for the Minister to specify, at the earliest opportunity, the level of the Hong Kong contribution which HMG is seeking. Since this level largely rests on the case as set out in the draft address, it would seem to us approp- riate to link the two and to regard the substance of the address itself
as confidential, at least until the negotiations have been satisfactorily resolved.
Copies of this letter and enclosures go to David Jones, Lawrence O'Keefe, and to those concerned in the Treasury.
in
SECRET
yours
eve
JE HANSFORD
UK EYES 'A'