RESTRICTED
486
1
00 PEKING
GRS 199
RESTRICTED
FM FCO 04140OZ SEP 84
TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1085 OF 4 SEPTEMBER
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM GALSWORTHY
TEST OF ACCEPTABILITY
WE
1. I AM SORRY TO BOTHER YOU WITH MINUTIAE, BUT WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD LOOK INTO THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM WHEN YOU GET BACK TO HONG KONG. SEVERAL WEEKS AGO WE AGREED WITH THE TREASURY TERMS FOR THE TWO MONITORS AND AN OVERALL BUDGET FOR THE EXERCISE. BASED THIS ON INFORMATION WHICH WE HAD RECEIVED FROM HONG KONG ABOUT THE FEE WHICH WOULD BE NECESSARY FOR MR JUSTICE LI, AND THERE WAS AN EXCHANGE OF TELEGRAMS AT THE TIME (OUR TELNO 1549 AND HK TELNO 2292). WE HAVE JUST HEARD FROM HONG KONG THAT THEY INTEND TO SEEK AN EXTRA 25 PER CENT ON THE FIGURE ORIGINALLY QUOTED FOR MR JUSTICE LI TO COVER ON-COSTS FOR PENSIONS ETC, (HONG KONG TELS NOS 2548 AND 2615).
2. THIS IS GOING TO GIVE US MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE TREASURY. IF IT IS REALLY NECESSARY FOR THESE ON-COSTS TO BE CHARGED TO HMG
I
WILL OF COURSE TAKE THE MATTER UP AGAIN WITH FINANCE DEPT AND THE TREASURY, BUT MY OWN FEELING IS THAT IN PAYING MR JUSTICE LI'S SALARY WE SHALL BE OBSERVING THE DECENCIES. WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE
FOR THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT NOT TO DUN US FOR THE ON-COSTS?
HOWE
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DISTRIBUTION
MINIMAL
HKD
PPD
FINANCE D
PSD
1
RESTRICTED
A