CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE BTC HONG KONG
TELNO 38
OF 281725Z JANUARY 91
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG
CONFIDENTIAL
нко 340/5
RECE!
INDL
-
SFEB 991 COPY Q DIST?
31
165511
MDHOAN 6610
1o. ✔
29/1
Dr Mari
1
FOR SENIOR BRITISH TRADE COMMISSIONER
YOUR TELNO 32: BRITISH UNDERTAKINGS
·
1 LORD CAITHNESS AND MR SAINSBURY (DTI) HAVE APPROVED YOUR COMMITTEE'S LISTS OF BRITISH UNDERTAKINGS. THE WAY IS NOW CLEAR FOR THE LISTS TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNOR.
2.
LORD CAITHNESS WOULD PREFER, FOR PRESENTATIONAL REASONS, THAT THE LISTS BE CONSOLIDATED IN THE FORM OF A SINGLE LIST FOR PUBLICATION. WE ASSUME THAT THIS WILL BE THE CASE. THERE WOULD BE NO ADVANTAGE IN PUBLICISING THE UNDERTAKINGS IN A FORMAT WHICH SHOWED THE CRITERIA USED IN GREATER DETAIL THAN HITHERTO
BE MADE PUBLIC.
3 =
LORD CAITHNESS BELIEVES THAT IT WOULD BE PREFERABLE TO DELAY
PUBLISHING A LIST UNTIL DECISIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN ABOUT THE MAJOR ''DIFFICULT'' COMPANIES RATHER THAN PRODUCE A SECOND LIST OF 'DIFFICULT'' COMPANIES. THIS WOULD HELP TO AVOID FOCUSING PUBLIC ATTENTION ON RELATIVELY CONTROVERSIAL CASES. WE APPRECIA THE PRESSURE YOU ARE UNDER, BUT HOPE THAT DECISIONS ON MAJOR
''DIFFICULT COMPANIES CAN BE TAKEN AT YOUR COMMITTEE'S MEETI
ON 29 JANUARY.
4
HURD
PLEASE PASS TO PS/LORD CAITHNESS AND BURNS (VISITING).
YYYY