DD 01010OZ HONG KONG
GRS 353
SECRET
3928
-
2
SECRET
DESKBY 0101002
FM FCO 301700Z NOV 83
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELELGRAM NUMBER 1271 OF 30 NOVEMBER
AND TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
INFO MOD (DS5)
1.
PEKING TELNO 183 TO YOU: RN TASK GROUP: DEPLOYMENT TO HONG KONG
YOU MAY ALREADY HAVE LEARNT FROM CAPIC THAT INVINCIBLE
(CURRENTLY IN NEW ZEALAND) HAS DEVELOPED A MALFUNCTION REQUIRING
REPAIRS IN DRY DOCK. THE ONLY FACILITIES IN THE REGION THAT MAY
BE ABLE TO TAKE HER FOR REPAIRS ARE IN:
(A) SYDNEY
(B) THE US NAVY BASE AT SUBIC BAY
(C) SINGAPORE
(D) HONG KONG
2.
SYDNEY SEEMS CERTAIN TO BE RULED OUT BECAUSE OF LIKELY
UNION OPPOSITION IN THE ABSENCE OF A STATEMENT (WHICH IT IS NOT OUR PRACTICE TO GIVE) THAT INVINCIBLE DOES NOT HAVE NUCLEAR WEAPONS ABOARD. SUBIC BAY IS HEAVILY OCCUPIED WITH WORK FOR THE US NAVY. THERE IS LIKELY TO BE NO/NO PROBLEM WITH SINGAPORE,
ALTHOUGH WE AWAIT FINAL CONFIRMATION. SINGAPORE IS THUS VERY
LIKELY TO BE THE PREFERRED CHOICE.
ADDRESS
THE
3. NONETHELESS MOD OFFICIALS HAVE ASKED US TO
HYPOTHESIS OF A VISIT BY INVINCIBLE TO HONG KONG, PURELY FOR THE
PURPOSE OF THE REPAIRS, IF CIRCUMSTANCES AROSE IN WHICH THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE WAS THE CANCELLATION OF HER DEPLOYMENT AND A RETURN TO UK. REPAIRS WOULD TAKE ABOUT 10 DAYS IN THE PERIOD
BETWEEN 21 DECEMBER AND 21 JANUARY.
4.
WE HAVE SO FAR ARGUED THAT THE POLITICAL SENSITIVITIES TO WHICH OUR MINISTERS HAVE ALREADY DRAWN ATTENTION WOULD NOT BE
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