CONFIDENTIAL
RE
C D S Drace-Francis Esq Assistant Political Adviser Government Secretariat
HONG KONG
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·9 JUN 1977
HKK 175/2
2 June 1977
24
VISIT OF THE "OTTO HAHN" TO HONG KONG
1. Thank you for your letter of 3 May. The score is this:-
(a) our reply to the German Embassy:
Unless you see strong objection (and, if so, please telegraph this to us desk by 131000Z), we propose to reply to the German Embassy's letter of 23 November with the draft enclosed. I have recast the phraseology of the second half of the letter in a way which I hope you can find acceptable;
(b) operational orders:
The Ministry of Defence have agreed to let stand tha references to NUSAFE in your operational orders but on the se conditions:-
(i) that the following amendments are made to the draft reply to the German Consulate General that you enclosed with your letter:
"(a) The operational orders contained in the attached document, together with the arrangements laid down in the Hong Kong NUŠAFE orders, will be followed in all particulars."
"(e)
. given to the Hong Kong Government of the dates
(ii) that the operational orders be cleared first with the Department of Trade and the UKAEA. I have this in hand and enclose a copy of my letter of 27 May to Doyle in the Marine Division of the DOT. (Doyle has undertaken to consult the UKAEA. I understand that all this may take some time but I shall do my best to chivvy it forward);
(c) the NET at Alverstoke:
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The Ministry of Defence are prepared to provide Alverstoke coverage, on the understanding that (as you offer) one month's notice is given of the visit to the MOD and (as you do not at least yet - ) any costs are met by the Hong Kong Government (in the first instance);
(d) the press line:
In the middle of paragraph 3 of your letter of 3 May you mention your defensive press line. We would be grateful for a change to see
/ (e)
and clear this;