CONFIDENTIAL
their first substantive Committee. All concerned in Hong Kong think it will help to head off any extreme reactions if we are able to show positive movement by them.
3.
Sir D Ford showed the interim Chairman of the
Association a copy of Lord Caithness' letter on 17 March. The contents of the letter will not therefore come as any surprise. I should draw the Minister's attention to a change in the final sentence of the second paragraph of the
letter, from that sent to Sir D Ford. We have omitted saying that we will open consultations "with representatives of the officers concerned". This is because we are not sure that we will be in a position to have face to face consultations before Easter. Our current plan is to issue all members of HMOCS a letter setting out the broad thrust
of our proposals before Easter. We would then leave the Association Committee time to gather views and opinions before holding face to face discussions probably some time
in May.
•
I am submitting this now, before the JLG meeting on
24-26 March, because of timing constraints. If the
Minister is content with the letter, we shall forward it to Hong Kong and send a trigger telegram for its release, once we know the outcome of any discussion at the JLG meeting.
и польз
PF Ricketts
MVSADW/2
I hope to hold a meeting with the ODA, to diveen the practical handling of there consultations, before I go and to Hay Kon
at the end of the mouth.
CONFIDENTIAL
Adaww was
2013