RESTRICTED
RESTRICTED
FM FCO
TO ROUTINE UKREP JLG HONG KONG
TELNO 79
OF 101010Z JULY 90
HKC031 20
NEW
12 JUL 1990
JPY
Q DIST?
6
133775
MDLOAN 0279
hu
1097
PERSONAL FOR GALSWORTHY FROM PAUL, HKD
JLG XVI: ATTENDANCE OF LEICESTER
1. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TELELETTER OF 1 JUNE, SETTING OUT THE CASE FOR GRAHAM LEICESTER'S ATTENDANCE AT JLG XVI.
2. I HAVE DONE MY BEST TO SECURE AGREEMENT TO THE FUNDING OF LEICESTER'S JOURNEY HERE IN SEPTEMBER. I REGRET TO SAY THAT, AGAINST THE CURRENT BACKGROUND OF EXTREME FINANCIAL AUSTERITY WITHIN THE OFFICE, I HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL, DESPITE HAVING DEPLOYED THE COGENT ARGUMENTS SET OUT IN YOUR TELELETTER. THE HARSH FACT IS THAT, UNLESS WE CAN DEMONSTRATE THAT A JOURNEY IS ESSENTIAL, AS DEFINED BY THE STRICTEST CRITERIA, AGREEMENT TO FUNDING OF ANY JOURNEY IS NOT FORTHCOMING. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO SPARE CASH IN THE TRAVEL BUDGET: THIS MEANS THAT IN PRACTICE
EACH AND EVERY JOURNEY HAS TO BE JUSTIFIED ON AN AD HOC BASIS
ON ITS MERITS.
3.
ALTHOUGH IT WILL BE NO CONSOLATION AT ALL TO LEICESTER TO KNOW THIS, YOU MIGHT LIKE TO EXPLAIN TO HIM THAT FAMILIARISATION VISITS TO HONG KONG BY MEMBERS OF HKD HAVE ALSO BEEN SEVERELY CUT BACK, AND THERE MUST BE SOME DOUBT WHETHER EVEN NEW GRADE 5S WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR SUCH VISITS UNDER PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES.
4.
HURD
I AM SORRY I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GIVE YOU BETTER NEWS.
YYYY
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