Alan
1.
Has 34011
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
Message from John
02 MAY 1990
DESK OFFICER
1. PAGE BOLIQ6:
REGISTRY
PA
Action Taken
International support. FCO received a telegram from Paris on 28 March reporting that an offer affecting about 1200 people had been put to some French firms in Hong Kong. This had leaked through the AFP correspondence in Hong Kong. The line taken in Paris in response to any questions was neither confirm nor deny.
2. Telno 1081 from Hong Kong of 28 March. This states that Hong Kong had obtained an updated briefing on the latest French proposal and that of approximately 10,000 locally employed staff of French companies, the scheme would need to cover about 15% or 1500 heads of household.
3. As far as Ian Whitehead is concerned he knows of no other leak than the 1200 figure. He doesn't know of a leak of the 1500 figure. The only leak in the press
of numbers was the one that came out in the British press which you know all about. Basically, the 1200 figure was leaked in Hong Kong but the 1500 figure has not been leaked.
4. Whitehead says that the press coverage in UK, apart from the FT and the Telegraph which makes a lot of the Consulate's ignorance of the schemes, is good. The tabloids' coverage is good and does not make anything of the Consulate angle. Furthermore the editorial in the Express concludes with this:
"This breakthrough is undoubtedly a triumph for the Foreign Office, which has been nagging and cajoling our partners and allies into lending a hand.
Congratulations seem in order.
5.
FF
John Morris will not issue the telegram until he gets a call from you.
18/2
Mr Myths W 18/4
Jenny
11.4.90
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