CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 350
OF 011126Z FEBRUARY 91
CONFIDENTIAL
HKB 020 13
T
ва
20
002355
MDHIAN 1860
PERSONAL FOR MCLAREN, DUSS FROM GOVERNOR
YRTELNO 187: GULF: BURDENSHARING
1. I HAVE HAD TWO BRIEF INFORMAL DISCUSSIONS OF THIS WITH EXCO AND WILL DISCUSS IT FURTHER NEXT WEEK. FOLLOWING THAT, ALLEN LEE IS LIKELY TO SOUND OUT MEMBERS OF LEGCO DURING AN IN-HOUSE MEETING..
2. AT PRESENT THERE IS AN INCLINATION TO BE HELPFUL AND TO TAKE THE POINT THAT, WITH A MAJOR INTERNATIONAL CRISIS OF THIS SORT, HONG KONG SHOULD DO ITS BIT. BUT THERE IS ALSO NERVOUSNESS ABOUT HOW THIS WILL RUN POLITICALLY IN THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. NOT SURPRISINGLY, THERE ARE NEWSPAPER REPORTS OF PUBLIC SENTIMENT AGAINST A CONTRIBUTION. MEMORIES OF THE FURORE OVER THE FALKLANDS FUND CONTRIBUTION REMAIN FRESH. OTHER WEEVILS, LIKE INTERNATIONAL COST SHARING FOR VIETNAMESE, WILL UNDOUBTEDLY COME OUT OF THE WOODWORK.
3. I WILL DECIDE HOW TO TAKE THIS FORWARD AFTER THE TWO SOUNDING OUR EXERCISES DESCRIBED ABOVE.
4. SEE MIFT.
WILSON
YYYY
MAIN
20
LIMITED
HKD
EMERGENCY UNIT (COPIED)
PS/LORD CAITHNESS
NNNN
DISTRIBUTION
20
20
MR MCLAREN
MR BAYNE
MR FAIRWEATHER
MR BURNS
PAGE
1
CONFIDENTIAL