11
SECRET
Foreign and Commonwealth Office London SW1
R J Andrew Esq AUS(GS)
Ministry of Defence
Main Building
Telephone 01-
(x)
Your reference
Our reference
Date
15 December 1975
Dear Robert,
HONG KONG DEFENCE COSTS AGREEMENT
1.
Following our conversation this morning, we received a telegram from the Acting Governor in Hong Kong addressed to Sir Murray MacLehose. The Acting Governor asked that we should inform you of the views he expressed in his telegram regarding amendments to the Memorandum of Understanding and to the draft press announcement and the question of the timing of an announcement. I therefore enclose the relevant paragraphs of the Acting Governor's telegram. They should be read, of course, together with FCO telegrams nos. 956 (containing your message to Mr Davies of 12 December) and 957 (being Mr Rodgers's letter of 12 December to the Governor which Sir Murray MacLehose had telegraphed to Hong Kong over the weekend).
2.
I should explain that the Acting Governor's telegram has crossed with one which the Governor has sent to Hong Kong following his conversations with you and me earlier today. The Governor's own telegram has not yet been distributed but I enclose a copy of the draft as it issued.
3.
As we agreed when we spoke, I think it would be a good idea for Laurence O'Keeffe, who returns to the Office tomorrow morning,
and you to have a word before anything more is said to the Governor on the question of the timing of an announcement.
Yours
Quar
Derek Willi Делек
D F Milton
Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept.
SECRET