SECRET
HKE 063/1
73
101752
MDHIAN 9082
SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 3108OOZ FCO
TELNO 1732
OF 31070OZ MAY 91
FOR ASPREY (VISITING).
72
TOP COPY Q DIST?
YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 1020: RN PATROL CRAFT: DISCUSSIONS WITH MOD, DAY ONE.
1. I AGREE WITH THE LINE PROPOSED IN PARA 5 OF TUR. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT, HOWEVER DIFFICULT THE DISCUSSIONS AND HOWEVER INFLEXIBLE MOD SEEM, WE SHOULD REMAIN WILLING TO CONSIDER EVERY POSSIBLE OPTION, SUBJECT ONLY TO THE REQUIREMENT THAT WE WOULD NOT NEED TO SEEK FINANCE COMMITTEE APPROVAL FOR ANY ARRANGEMENT THAT FELL OUTSIDE THE 65:35 RATIO LAID DOWN IN THE DCA.
2. IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO, YOU SHOULD REBUT MOD'S CLAIM THAT THERE IS NO MILITARY REQUIREMENT TO RETAIN THE PATROL CRAFT BEYOND 1992. AS YOU KNOW, CBF HAS CONSISTENTLY TAKEN THE LINE THAT THIS REQUIREMENT EXISTS.
3. IF MOD REVERT TO THE POINT THAT HONG KONG WOULD HAVE TO MEET 100 PER CENT OF THE OPERATING COSTS OF THE PATROL CRAFT, YOU SHOULD POINT OUT THAT GOING TO FINANCE COMMITTEE WITH SUCH A PROPOSAL WOULD HAVE A VERY BAD EFFECT ON THE POLITICAL PERCEPTION OF HMG IN HONG KONG. THIS WOULD BE PARTICULARLY THE CASE AFTER OUR CONTRIBUTION OF 15 MILLION POUNDS STERLING TO THE COSTS THAT HMG INCURRED IN THE GULF WAR. AS YOU KNOW, WE ONLY MANAGED TO GET THIS THROUGH FINANCE COMMITTEE WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY.
4. FOR YOUR OWN INFORMATION ONLY, CBF TOLD ME TODAY THAT HE THOUGHT THE MOD STAFFING PROPOSAL RECORDED IN PARA. 4 OF TUR WAS NONSENSE. I IMAGINE THAT HE HAS PASSED THIS VIEW TO THOSE MEMBERS OF HIS STAFF NOW IN LONDON FOR THE TALKS.
WILSON
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