DRAFT LETTER TO :
CONFIDENTIAL
PERSONAL
Mr. Andrew Burns,
Assistant Under Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth office
(Not sent)
20/
HMOCS Matters
The
enclosed article appeared in the South China
Morning Post on 29 October. Although the article expresses
general concern, the text relates very much to the position
of HMOCS.
The HMOCS Association have done their best to
avoid media reference to HMOCS in view of the sensitivity
with China and indeed our own local officers. At the same
time we have continued to fend off media enquiries and to
keep the issue low-key. However as you are know this line
cannot be sustained indefinitely. The absence of any
adverse
announcement on HMOCS arrangements is having a noticeable
effect on morale and is making a already difficult
situation considerably more tense. We cannot guarantee
that this issue can be kept from the media for much longer.
CONFIDENTIAL