CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
TELNO 270
OF 25080OZ JANUARY 91
CONFIDENTIAL
155446
MDHIAN 0600
YOUR TELNO 172: PADS:
1.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE'S REQUEST COULD NOT HAVE COME AT A MORE INCONVENIENT TIME. OUR EXPERTS ARE NOW WORKING FLAT OUT ON THE PREPARATION OF PAPERS FOR THE THIRD ROUND OF EXPERT TALKS THAT HAVE BEEN ARRANGED FOR NEXT MONTH. THESE HAVE TO BE PREPARED BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK I.E. BY 1 FEBRUARY. MANY OF THEM, INCLUDING THE LEADER OF THE TEAM, ARE ALSO HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THE PREPARATION OF THE 1991 BUDGET, WHICH WILL BE DELIVERED ON 6 MARCH.
2. I REALLY DO NOT FEEL THAT I CAN ASK THOSE CONCERNED EITHER TO TAKE ON THIS ADDITIONAL BURDEN OR TO GIVE IT PRIORITY OVER THEIR OTHER URGENT TASKS. I WONDER IF IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO EXPLAIN THE SITUATION TO THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE AND TO ASK IF THEY WOULD AGREE TO DEFER THE PREPARATION OF THE MEMORANDUM? IF THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO CO-OPERATE, I AM AFRAID THAT THE MAIN BURDEN OF PREPARING THE MEMORANDUM WILL HAVE TO FALL ON YOU.
WILSON
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
74
.PADS
DISTRIBUTION
75
PUSD
LIMITED
HKD
COMED
ECONOMIC ADVISERS
ERD
HD/FED
NEWS D
RAD
PS/LORD CAITHNESS
PS/MR LENNOX-BOYD
MR BAYNE
MR MCLAREN
MR MILES
MR BURNS