SECRET
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 2283
OF 291715Z NOVEMBER 90
51
SECRET
Pa
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
145577 (60)
MDHOAN 2606
НКС 062/
ECFIVES
12DBC1990
PERSONAL FOR ACTING GOVERNOR FROM PAUL, HKD
ACTING
YOUR TELNO 3517: ROYAL NAVY PRESENCE IN HONG KONG
1. WE HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE MOD NOTE, WHICH WAS NEITHER CLEARED NOR DISCUSSED WITH US PRIOR TO THE DEPARTURE OF THE MOD TEAM. I AGREE THAT THE POSITION SET OUT IN THE MOD NOTE IS A BAD BASIS FOR STARTING THE TALKS. AS YOU KNOW, IT IS CERTAINLY NOT THE FCO VIEW THAT THE CASE FOR RETENTION OF THE PATROL CRAFT IS A PRIMARILY POLITICAL ONE. THE MOD ARE AWARE OF THIS, BECAUSE WE HAVE MADE OUR POSITION CLEAR TO THEM ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS. I HAVE DONE SO AGAIN TODAY TO HOWARD, DEPUTY HEAD OF S(O) (C) WHO WILL BE JOINING THE MOD DELEGATION IN HONG KONG SHORTLY. WE PROPOSE TO RECOMMEND THAT LORD CAITHNESS SHOULD INTERVENE SOON, PUTTING OUR VIEWS ON RECORD ONCE AGAIN. SURE THAT THESE MATTERS CAN ONLY BE RESOLVED AT MINISTERIAL LEVEL.
2.
IN THE MEANTIME IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF YOU COULD FAX TO ME A COPY OF THE MOD NOTE (THE FINAL VERSION OF WHICH DOES NOT EXIST HERE). IT WOULD ALSO BE HELPFUL TO HAVE AN EARLY READ OUT OF THE DISCUSSIONS ON THIS SUBJECT BETWEEN THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY AND BRACK (MOD), WHICH I UNDERSTAND HAVE ALREADY STARTED.
HURD
YYYY
MAIN
45
LIMITED
HKD
NPDD
SPD
DISTRIBUTION
45
PS/LORD CAITHNESS PS/MR LENNOX-BOYD
PS/PUS
MR GOULDEN
PAGE
1
SECRET