CONFIDENTIAL
167156
MDLIAN 6249
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HANOI
TELNO 25
TO PRIORITY FCO
OF 10035OZ JANUARY 92
HKD 02613
RECEIVED IN RECIST
17 JAN 1992
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PERSONAL FOR RICKETTS (HKD)
FROM BURNS AUSS (VISITING)
& ADOS DOL
HONG KONG: VISIT BY LORD CAITHNESS ON 7 JANUARY
1 IT MAY BE WORTH NOTING THE FOLLOWING POINTS THAT
W
EMERGED FROM OUR CONVERSATIONS ON TUESDAY EVENING:
I) AIRPORT BRIDGE: ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNOR THE AJC BID IS CHEAPER THAN THE ALL-JAPANESE ONE. IT IS ON A PAR WITH THE FRENCH BUT HEDGED WITH MORE CONDITIONS.
II) HMOCS: A LONG DISCUSSION BROUGHT HOME TO THE GOVERNOR THE UPHILL STRUGGLE WE FACE AND THE NEED TO SPELL OUT
THE CONSEQUENCES OF A DECISION EITHER TO POSTPONE A DECISION OR TO RULE OUT STERLING SAFEGUARDS. HE IS ADAMANT THAT THE COMPENSATION PACKAGE ON ITS OWN SHOULD BE PURSUED EVEN IF STERLING SAFEGUARDS ARE REJECTED. I SUGGESTED HE FIT IN A CALL ON MRS CHALKER WHEN HE IS IN LONDON. WE MUST TRY TO GIVE HIM A SIGHT OF OUR PAPER IN TIME FOR HIM TO SEEK COMMENTS FROM HIS OWN PEOPLE BEFORE HE SPEAKS TO MINISTERS.
III) LORD CAITHNESS HAS GIVEN THE GOVERNOR DETAILED SUGGESTIONS FOR HIS FEBRUARY PROGRAMME. WE HAVE NO COPY.
PLEASE GET THE DETAILS FROM PS/GOVERNOR.
IV) TRADE AND INDUSTRY SELECT COMMITTEE. PETER HEAP CAND PEKING) NEEDS A MORE POLITICAL STEER THAN HE IS SO FAR GETTING FROM PRU ON HOW TO HANDLE THIS LARGE GROUP (WHICH WILL STRETCH HIS RESOURCES).
V) CONSULATE GENERAL/RESIDENCE. HKG WILL BE ASKING OED TO COME UP WITH THEIR PREFERRED VERSION OF A PTG. HKG'S RESIDENCE IDEAS ARE HOPELESS. WE NEED TO GIVE THEM CAFTER DICUSSSIONS WITH HEAP) A CLEARER SENSE OF OUR REQUIREMENTS FOR A MAJOR TOOL OF OUR DIPLOMACY.
WILLIAMS
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