Private Secretary
Secretary
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Letter to isme
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Sennety & state
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Fikk 345/2
RECEIVED BI P**MIMY NO. 51
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DESK OFICER
INDEX
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AFIGH
17/6.
MS CHRISTINE VERTUCCI
Lord Belstead has seen the attached papers and commented
as follows.
1.
2. He is sorry that this question has blown up but, as the speaking note makes clear, previous Ministers had decided to up- hold Hong Kong's decision and Lord Belstead himself cannot see that any other decision was possible. Lord Belstead wishes to emphasise that when Mr Humphrey Atkins saw the MPs he was not able to give them the true reasons for Hong Kong's decision
Therefore when the same MPs came
to see Lord Belstead he too was unable to explain the true reasons behind the decision, and this they resented.
3.
Lord Belstead hopes that the offer of a word with Mr Healey will be able to set matters right. He is sorry to trouble the Secretary of State but he had hoped that we had heard the last of this case: it is now becoming ancient history as Ms Vertucci is now in the United States.
16 June 1982
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M A Arthur
PS/Lord Belstead
THIS IS A COPY
THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN RETAINED IN THE DEPARTMENT UNDER SECTION 3 (4) OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT 1958
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