CONFIDENTIAL
056057
MDHIAN 708
DEPENDENT TERRITORY IN ACTING ON ITS BEHALF OF ITS SPECIFIC REQUEST. THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE AND NO DOUBT WILL NEED TO HAPPEN AGAIN. THE CONTROLLERS, AT THE VERY LEAST IN POLITICAL TERMS, MUST SURELY BE THAT, IF THE UK DOES NOT/NOT ACT AT THE REQUEST OF HONG KONG TO REPRESENT ITS INTERESTS WHEN THOSE ARE AT RISK, THEN THE UK TAKES ON THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEALING WITH THE RESULTING PROBLEM. IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE IT WOULD OF COURSE BECOME PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE IF THE UK REFUSED TO ACT ON HONG KONG'S BEHALF: WHATEVER THE LEGAL NICETIES THE IVORY TRADERS AND CARVERS WOULD DOUBTLESS TURN THEIR ATTENTION, IN SEEKING COMPENSATION, TO HMG.
WILSON
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
15
LIMITED
HKD
NNNN
DISTRIBUTION
15
MR MCLAREN
PAGE
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CONFIDENTIAL