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12. I CAN ONLY SAY THAT, UNLESS ASSURANCES ACCEPTABLE TO EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ARE RECEIVED, I DO NOT VIEW WITH ANY OPTIMISM THE PROSPECT
OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ADVISING THAT THE DEFENCE COSTS AGREEMENT
SHOULD BE CONCLUDED NOW.
13. IN THE LAST PARAGRAPH OF HIS TELNO 841 OF 5TH DECEMBER DAVIES SUGGESTED THAT COPIES OF THE MOU SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR CIRCULATION
TO EXECUTIVE COUNCIL BUT SHOULD NOT BE ISSUED TO MEMBERS UNTIL
FURTHER MATERIAL WERE PROVIDED BY HIM, PRESUMABLY BY WAY OF EXPLANATION OF THE MOU.
14. FEAR THAT I FEEL OBLIGED TO ISSUE THE TEXT OF THE MOU TO
UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS BEFORE THE WEEKEND. IF THERE IS TO BE ANY
PROSPECT OF THEIR AGREEING TO AN EARLY ANNOUNCEMENT, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE IMPRESSION SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN THAT THEY ARE
BEING RUSHED.
15. RETURN OF HONG KONG TEAM. I ASSUME THAT THE HONG KONG TEAM WILL
NOT BE ABLE TO LEAVE LONDON FOR HONG KONG ON MONDAY. THEREFORE 1
SUGGEST THAT THEY SHOULD TRY TO CATCH THE PLANE LEAVING LONDON ON -
WEDNESDAY AND ARRIVE IN HONG KONG ON THE EVENING OF THURSDAY,
I WOULD PREFER THEM NOT TO ARRIVE IN HONG KONG ON THE WEDNESDAY IN
THE MIDDLE OF THE CONTROVERSY WHICH WOULD UNDOUBTEDLY BE RAGING
AT THAT TIME IF AN ANNOUNCEMENT IS MADE ON THAT DAY. ROBERTS
FILES
HRIOD (4)
DEFENCED
PS
PS/LORD GORONWY - ROBERTS
SIRD WATSON
MR MALE
MR LARMOUR
MR THOMSON
COPIES TO
MRANDREW AUS(GS) MOD
MR STRIDD
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT
OFFICE
LONDON
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