SECRET
SECRET
нка 233/1
TOP COPV Q DIST?
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 06140OZ FCO
TELNO 700
OF 06111OZ MARCH 92
INFO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
FROM GOVERNOR
73
146504
MDHIAN 5843
Ра
л
713
PERSONAL FOR COX HKD.
70
YOUR TELNO 403: HMOCS: DRAFT STATEMENT
I HAVE DISCUSSED THE WAY FORWARD WITH LORD CAITHNESS AND HIS PARTY AND TONY GALSWORTHY.
1.
2.
WE AGREE THAT A LETTER FROM LORD CAITHNESS CONTAINING THE LAST THREE SENTENCES OF PARAGRAPH FOUR OF THE REVISED DRAFT STATEMENT WOULD MEET OUR IMMEDIATE NEEDS. THIS WOULD GIVE A CLEAR COMMITMENT TO A COMPENSATION SCHEME WHILE WE CONTINUE SEPARATELY TO TRY TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM OF STERLING SAFEGUARDS.
3.
WE SUGGEST THAT THE LETTER SHOULD BE SENT BY LORD CAITHNESS TO TONY MILLER, THE ACTING CHAIRMAN OF THE HONG KONG HMOCS ASSOCIATION, AS A FOLLOW-UP TO THE MEETING THAT LORD CAITHNESS HAD WITH MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE ASSOCIATION YESTERDAY (5 MARCH). WE WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE THE LETTER TO REACH THE ASSOCIATION BEFORE THEIR MEETING ON 26 MARCH. WE BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD BE VERY WELL RECEIVED AND WOULD GIVE THE MODERATES ON THE COMMITTEE A CLEARER MANDATE TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE IN A LOW-KEY MANNER.
4.
WE MUST ASSUME THAT THE CONTENTS OF A LETTER TO THE ASSOCIATION WOULD BECOME PUBLIC, SINCE THE PURPOSE WOULD BE TO MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS OF THE HMOCS ASSOCIATION. IT WOULD THEREFORE BE BEST THAT THE CHINESE SHOULD BE BRIEFED BEFORE THE LETTER IS ISSUED, PREFERABLY SOME 10-14 DAYS IN ADVANCE.
5. WE PROPOSE THAT TONY GALSWORTHY SHOULD BRIEF GUO ON OR ABOUT 10 MARCH, AND THAT WE SHOULD AIM TO GET LORD CAITHNESS' LETTER TO THE HMOCS ASSOCIATION BY 23 MARCH.
6. MIFT CONTAINS A DRAFT SPEAKING NOTE FOR GALSWORTHY TO USE. LORD CAITHNESS HAS NOT SEEN THIS.