GR 13%
EDIATE
OTPHER/CAT A
FM HONG KONG 240945Z
CONFIDENTIAL 624
RECEIVE
24 FEB 1978
DESK OFFR
INDEX
No
43
M. Kaise
PA
दि
а
CONFIDENTIAL
TO IMMEDIATE F.C.O TELNO.222 OF 24 FEBRUARY 78,
INFO IMMEDIATE: BRUNEI, KUALA LUMPUR, SINGAPORE, JAKARTA.
BRUNE!.
1. THE 3 MARCH ISSUE OF ASIA WEEK, PUBLISHED HERE TODAY, INCLUDES A SEVEN-PAGE FEATURE ON BRUNEI ENTITLED QUOTE LOOKING
FOR A NEW FRIEND UNQUOTE. IT QUOTES BRUNEI SOURCES AS SAYING THAT NEXT WEEK BRITAIN WOULD FINALLY WITHDRAW THE GURKHA BATTALION. THERE IS NO SUGGESTION OF HONG KONG INTEREST IN THE BATTALION AND WE HAVE HAD NO PRESS QUERIES. IF ASKED WE PROPOSE, UNLESS OTHERWISE INSTRUCTED, TO SAY THAT NEGOTIATIONS ARE CONTINUING BUT/NO AGREEMENT HAS YET BEEN ANNOUNCED AND
BUT NO THAT THE FUTURE OF THE BATTALION MUST THEREFORE BE REGARDED AS UNDECIDED SEE OUR TELNO.154, NOT COPIED ELSEWHERE),
2. COPY FOLLOWS BY BAG (F.C.O ONLY).
MACLEHOSE
NNNN
FILES:
SEAD
HK & G D
DEF D
No
abint
decision has yet
the future of the Gurkha
been taken
Suttalion.
NEWS D
PS/LORD GORONWY ROBERTS
PS/PUS
SIR A. DUFF
MR CORTAZZI
MR MURRAY MR MOBERLY
CONFIDENTIAL