***GPS 200
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 110815Z FEB 1983
TO PRIORITY FCO
CONFIDENTIAL
TELEGRAM NUMBER 220 OF 11 FEBRUARY 1983
TC
INFO PRIORITY PEKING (PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR)
FUTURE OF HONGKONG: POSSIBLE VISIT BY REPRESENTATIVE OF HONGKONG BANK
на кочо
FEB 1983
1. I HAVE SPOKEN TO SANDBERG WHO TELLS ME THAT THE OBJECT OF THE VISIT TO PEKING IS NORMAL BANK BUSINESS.
THE IDEA OF CALLING ON LIAO IN ADDITION TO OTHER QUOTE FINANCIAL UNQUOTE CALLS CAME UP ONLY INCIDENTALLY (AND SANDBERG UNDERSTOOD THAT THE IDEA HAD ARISEN IN PEKING). THE IMPRESSION RECEIVED BY THE BANK HERE IS THAT HM AMBASSADOR WOULD BE IN FAVOUR OF A CALL
ON LIAO.
2. THE BANK ARE VERY READY TO TAKE ADVICE. I MYSELF WONDER WHETHER HAMMOND WOULD MAKE MUCH OF AN IMPACT ON LIAO. THERE IS ALSO I SUPPOSE SOME RISK THAT, GIVEN THAT HE IS FROM THE HKSB THE CHINESE MIGHT WONDER WHETHER HE IS MANDATED TO TALK TO LIAO, BUT HE IS OF COURSE NOT PRIVY TO THE POLITICAL DIMENSIONS OF THE PROBLEM.
3. ON THE OTHER HAND I DO NOT FEEL STRONGLY ON THIS AND IF THE AMBASSADOR THOUGHT THE CALL WOULD BE A GOOD THING I WOULD BE VERY READY TO ACCEPT HIS JUDGEMENT. I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF HE COULD LET ME KNOW WHAT HE CONCLUDES SO THAT I CAN PASS THE SAME ADVICE TO THE BANK HERE.
Af'th
See
[27
159
YOUDE
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
[THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT ADVANCED]
TIMITED
COPIES TO
HD! HKG D
PS/MR HURD
HD/YED
ED/PLANNING STAFF
ED/FUSD
PS
SIR I SINCLAIR
HR ROBERTS
MR COLES
MR MARGIN
LEGAL ADVISER
NEWS D
FS/LORD BELSTEAD
NO 10 DOWNING STREET
ASSESSMENTS STAFF
CABINET OFFICE
PS/PUS
MR GIFFARD
MR DONALD
SIR J BULLARD
CONFIDENTIAL
132