SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 0713OOZ F C O
TELNO
429
OF 071126Z FEBRUARY 91
SECRET
022165
MDHIAN 2794
PERSONAL FOR MCLAREN DUSS FROM GOVERNOR
MIPT: HONG KONG PATROL CRAFT.
TEXT OF BRACK'S LETTER TO FS IS AS FOLLOWS:
1.
BEGINS
I AM SURE YOU WILL BY NOW HAVE SEEN SIR MICHAEL QUINLAN'S REPLY TO HE THE GOVERNOR'S LETTER CONCERNED WITH THE POSSIBLE FUTURE RETENTION IN THEATRE OF THE THREE REMAINING PATROL CRAFT.
THIS ISSUE HAS, OF COURSE, BEEN THE SUBJECT OF DISCUSSION AND NEGOTIATION, BOTH FORMALLY AND INFORMALLY, FOR NEARLY A YEAR AND WE ARE MOST ANXIOUS TO SECURE A SETTLEMENT AS TO FUTURE ARRANGEMENTS AND FUNDING BEFORE THE END OF THIS MONTH. I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL THEREFORE IF, AS PROPOSED BY SIR MICHAEL QUINLAN, YOU COULD CONFIRM THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO VISIT LONDON SOMETIME DURING
THE NEXT THREE WEEKS. I APPRECIATE THIS IS NOT A PARTICULARLY
CONVENIENT TIME FOR YOU BUT THE CURRENT GULF CONFLICT IS PLACING HEAVY DEMANDS ON STAFFS IN LONDON AND IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO VISIT HONG KONG.
OUR POSITION ON THIS ISSUE HAS, I HOPE, BEEN CLEARLY SPELT OUT IN THE PERMANENT-UNDER-SECRETARY'S LETTER. THIS I TRUST WE
CAN COME TO A SATISFACTORY AGREEMENT DURING THE COURSE OF FURTHER
NEGOTIATIONS. QUITE SIMPLY WE HAVE TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE ONE WAY
OR THE OTHER.
PERHAPS YOU COULD LET ME KNOW WHICH DATES WOULD BE MOST
CONVENIENT.
ENDS.
WILSON
YYYY
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