CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 1806
OF 07180OZ OCTOBER 91
CONFIDENTIAL
177
016167
MDHOAN 2188
ра
HKB 027/1
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM RICKETTS HKD
(17)
ED
YOUR TELNO 3102: YOUR VISIT TO LONDON: OCTOBER 1991
1. WE DO NOT THINK THE MOD INTEND TO AMBUSH YOU. THEY HAVE (TYPICALLY)
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Q DIST?
TOP COPY
BUT THEY DO
PRODUCED A KITCHEN SINK LIST OF PAROCHIAL ISSUES. UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE NOT THERE FOR NEGOTIATING: THEY ARE RATHER WANTING TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY AND NO DOUBT DO A BIT OF LOBBYING.
2.
YOU ASK WHAT IN PARTICULAR THE MOD WISH TO RAISE UNDER GARRISON INVOLVEMENT IN VBPS AND RIGHT OF ABODE FOR LE STAFF. ON THE FIRST, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE MOD ARE FAR FROM KEEN TO TAKE ON MAJOR OR CONTINUING VBP WORK. THEY HAVE, FOR EXAMPLE, JUST GONE TO MR HAMILTON TO CLEAR THE PRINCIPLE THAT THE GARRISON SHOULD HELP WITH TRANSPORT OF DOUBLE-BACKERS TO ΚΑΙ ΤΑΚ. THE ANSWER CAME OUT POSITIVE BUT WITH THE PROVISO THAT THIS WOULD NOT SET A PRECEDENT FOR MORE GENERAL INVOLVEMENT. ON LE STAFF, WE HAVE NOW FAXED PAPERS TO PS/GH. THE MOD APPRECIATE THAT AS A PERCENTAGE OF ESTABLISHMENT, THEY HAVE GOT AS MANY PLACES AS THE POLICE, THEY NOTE THAT THE POLICE QUOTAS WERE NOT SIGNIFICANTLY OVERSUBSCRIBED, WHILE THEIRS WERE. THEY MAY WISH TO STRESS HOW IMPORTANT LOYAL AND EFFECTIVE LE PERSONNEL ARE, AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF LOSING LARGE NUMBERS OF THEM.
ON DEFENCE LANDS, WE HAVE NOT HERE TAKEN OUR THINKING ANY FURTHER PENDING TONY GALSWORTHY'S CONSIDERED COMMENTS ON JLG XX (JUST RECEIVED).
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THE MOD ARE FIELDING A POWERFUL TEAM (WE WILL HAVE CV'S TO HAND). AS DISCUSSED WITH RICHARD HOARE, I WOULD PROPOSE TO ATTEND AS WELL, IN CASE THERE ARE POINTS TO FOLLOW UP ON OUR SIDE.
HURD