SECRET
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 1026
OF 3114OOZ MAY 91
SECRET
Inker
PA
HKB 063/1
FROM ASPREY HKG (VISITING)
RN PATROL CRAFT: DISCUSSIONS WITH MOD DAY 2
1.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TELNO 1732.
95
104673
MDHOAN 4573
TOP COPY Q DIST?
2. WE MET WITH MOD THIS MORNING AND SPOKE AS IN PARA 5 OF TUR. MOD OUTLINED THE MAIN POINTS OF THEIR PROPOSAL THAT WE BUY OUT AND OPERATE THE PATROL CRAFT. THE INFORMATION PROVIDED DID NOT ALTER OUR EARLIER ASSESSMENT. WE MADE CLEAR THAT WE DOUBTED THE PRACTICABILITY OF THE OPTION, BUT AGREED TO MAKE A MORE DETAILED ASSESSMENT.
3.
FOLLOWING FURTHER DISCUSSIONS OF THE ABOVE AND OTHER FUNDING OPTIONS EARLIER CONSIDERED, WE AGREED WITH MOD THAT THERE WERE THREE MAJOR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN US:
(A) WHETHER THERE WAS A MILITARY NEED TO RETAIN THE PATROL CRAFT AFTER 1992:
(B) WHETHER IT WAS NECESSARY TO RETAIN THE PATROL CRAFT TO DEMONSTRATE SOVEREIGNTY IN THE WIDER INTERESTS OF HMG: AND
(C) WHETHER IT WAS APPROPRIATE TO APPLY SAVINGS FROM OTHER GARRISON ACTIVITIES TOWARDS MOD'S SHARE OF THE OPERATING COSTS OF THE PATROL CRAFT.
4. WE AGREED TO REVIEW ALL THE OPTIONS AND TO REVERT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. MOD INDICATED IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF WE COULD RESPOND WITHIN TWO WEEKS.
5. A FULLER REPORT AND ASSESSMENT WILL BE SUBMITTED EARLY NEXT WEEK ON OUR RETURN TO HONG KONG.
HURD