SECRET
FM PEKING
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 726
OF 270422Z MAY 92
SECRET
HKA 233/1
1.27/5
pa 2127/
AND TO PRIORITY HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
351
041066
MDLIAN 8409
TOP COPY Q DIST?
HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR
349
YOUR TELNO 425: HONG KONG HMOCS: EARLY RETIREMENT
1.
235
·350
WE SHARE THE DOUBTS EXPRESSED IN UKREP JLG TELNO 25 AT THE LIKELIHOOD OF ANY INFORMAL MECHANISM BEING KEPT CONFIDENTIAL. WE ALSO WONDER WHETHER THE DISCREET EXERCISE OF EXISTING POWERS BY THE GOVERNOR WOULD PROVIDE THE ASSURANCES HMOCS ARE SEEKING.
2.
WHATEVER APPROACH WAS ADOPTED, THE CHINESE WOULD STILL EXPECT TO BE BRIEFED ON A MATTER WHERE THE EXERCISE OF EXISTING POWERS TO MEET AN EXCEPTIONAL CASE HAD IMPLICATIONS FOR THE EXPERIENCED MANPOWER AVAILABLE TO THE INFANT SARG AND ALSO FOR ITS FINANCES. THERE IS SIMPLY NO POINT IN PROCEEDING BY SLEIGHT OF HAND, PARTICULARLY IF THE CHANCES OF BEING FOUND OUT ARE HIGH.
MCLAREN
YYYY
MAIN
40
DISTRIBUTION
40
.HER MAJESTY'S OVERSEAS
.CIVIL SERVICE RESTRICTED
HKD
LEGAL ADVISERS//MISS BROOKS
FED
NEWS D
RAD//MR WYE
OVERSEA PENSIONS/ODA//MR FISH
PS
PS/MR GOODLAD
PS/PUS
SIR J COLES
MR BURNS
MR KERBY
RMD
NNNN