20
OO HONG KONG
HKK
10017
SECDED R REGISTRY NO. 51
20 OCT 1983
PA
STRY
A lon Taken
SECRET
One Copy only
GRS 210
SECRET
FM FCO 29180OZ SEP 83
ΤΟ IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 989 OF 29 SEPTEMBER
21564 2
See 30
FOLLOWING PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM GIFFARD
YOUR TELNO 1436: FINANCIAL SITUATION
1. I HAVE DISCUSSED BREMRIDGE'S PERSONAL TELEGRAMS TO
CLIFT WITH MCMAHON AT THE BANK OF ENGLAND. THE BANK ARE
OF COURSE SYMPATHETIC. BUT THEY BELIEVE THAT AN
ECONOMIC EXPERT WHO WAS
NOT PERSONALLY FAMILIAR WITH
HONG KONG MIGHT FIND IT
TECHNICAL ADVICE IN THE PRESENT FLUID SITUATION.
HARD TO OFFER CONCLUSIVE
2. FURTHERMORE THE SECRETARY OF STATE, WHOM WE SHALL
HOPE TO CONSULT ON HIS RETURN TO LONDON TOMORROW, WILL
WISH TO DISCUSS THE WIDER SITUATION INCLUDING THE
POINTS COVERED IN FCO TELNO 979 AND YOUR TELNO 1425,
WITH HIS COLLEAGUES, IN ADVANCE OF YOUR OWN VISIT WITH
EXCO MEMBERS LATER NEXT WEEK. MINISTERS WILL WISH TO CONSIDER
THE FULL POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS, INCLUDING THOSE OF
THE MOVE WHICH YOU HAVE IN MIND, AND TO DISCUSS IT WITH
YOU YOURSELF LATER IN THE WEEK.
3. WE RECOGNISE THAT YOU ARE HARD PRESSED BUT IN ALL THE
CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT IT MIGHT BE
BETTER AS A FIRST STEP IF YOU WERE ABLE TO ASK BREMRIDGE
TO ARRANGE A VERY DISCREET VISIT TO LONDON BY AN EXPERT
FROM YOUR END WHO COULD HAVE FULL DISCUSSIONS WITH THE
BANK IN ADVANCE OF YOUR VISIT AND BE ON HAND TO ADVISE
YOU LATER IN THE WEEK.
HOWE
LIMITED
MR EVANS
HD/HKD
MR DONALD
PS
MR GIFFARD
PS/PUS
PS/MR LUCE
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