t
SECRET
FM FCO
58
SECRET
HKA 23311 Mi Ricketts
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 480
OF 13152OZ MARCH 92 INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING,
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR
WITH
Lard Canthinery (122
May 171500
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has agreed
we may
whom HMO MDHOAN 1404
yn confidence
Sandra Brown s nam in today ad woodfield was not in a position to say much. I asked whetter, they intended to reply to
sors nemite ad be sand UKREP JLG HONG KONG
the
he did not know. He did Not however give any hind that the Treasury,
M 16/3
Mr Store.
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you
chick
later today (witter
nellarity revealing why) to see Hat Here is nothing in the pipeline my 10/3 from its chick see, which
by anything
were upset
we had do the
YOUR TELNO 788: HMOCS ASSOCIATION
1. WE SHOULD PREFER TO WAIT UNTIL CLOSE OF PLAY ON MONDAY 16 MARCH TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY TREASURY REACTION TO THE PRESENT POSITION. UNLESS YOU HEAR FROM US TO THE CONTRARY DESKBY 17003OZ, WE WOULD BE HAPPY FOR SIR DAVID FORD THEN TO SHOW LORD CAITHNESS'S LETTER IN CONFIDENCE TO MR CARTLAND, THE ACTING CHAIRMAN OF THE HMOCS ASSOCIATION, IF HE (OR YOU) BELIEVES THAT THIS WOULD BE HELPFUL AND IS SATISFIED THAT THE INFORMATION WILL REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL UNTIL THE END OF THE MONTH (OR UNTIL WE ARE IN A POSITION TO GO PUBLIC, IF EARLIER).
2. IT REMAINS OUR INTENTION THAT THE PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT SHOULD BE IN THE FORM OF A LETTER FROM LORD CAITHNESS TO CARTLAND (BASED ON PARAS 2 AND 3 OF THE LETTER TO SIR DAVID FORD). WE WONDER HOWEVER IF IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT HE RECEIVES THIS BY 23 MARCH, GIVEN THAT THE HMOCS ASSOCIATION MEETING IS PRESUMABLY ON
THE EVENING OF 26 MARCH? IF THE CHINESE REACT BADLY TO MR GALSWORTHY'S BRIEFING, THERE MIGHT BE ADVANTAGE IN OUR AVOIDING ANY PUBLICITY UNTIL AFTER JLG XXII HAS COMPLETED ITS BUSINESS ON 26 MARCH CIE WE MIGHT ASK YOU TO PASS CARTLAND THE
LETTER ON THE MORNING OF 26 MARCH).
261
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