CONFIDENTIAL
064136
MDHIAN
MAIN PREOCCUPATION AT PRESENT AS REPORTED IN THE MEDIA IS WITH SUBVERSION. AS REGARDS DEFENCE MATTERS, THEIR CONCERN HAS BEEN TO EMPHASISE THE RIGHT IN PRINCIPLE TO STATION FORCES HERE, AND TO MAKE CLEAR THAT DISCUSSIONS ON FUTURE ARRANGEMENTS ARE CONTINUING IN THE FRAMEWORK OF JLG, RATHER THAN. TO CHALLENGE THE TAMAR DECISION ITSELF.
5. THE ARTICLE IN THE HK STANDARD OF 13 OCTOBER IS MISCHIEVOUS IN A NUMBER OF RESPECTS:
JSPRS HAVE NO RECORD OF THE STATEMENT ATTRIBUTED TO A JOINT FORCES SPOKESMAN,
THE VARIOUSLY DESCRIBED SOURCES ARE QUOTED AS SAYING THINGS WHICH ARE IN PART REASONABLE, E.G. ''CHINA HAD BEEN TOLD OF THE MOVE'' AND WHICH ARE IN PART MISLEADING, E.G. ''BUT HAD NOT AGREED''. IT IS NOT EVEN CLEAR WHETHER THE 'WELL PLACED SOURCE'' IS CHINESE OR BRITISH.
6. PLEASE COPY TURS TO GOVERNOR IN WASHINGTON.
FORD
YYYY
MAIN
LIMITED
HKD
PS/MR MAUDE
NNNN
17
DISTRIBUTION
17
MR GILLMORE
MR MCLAREN