200057Z
REFERRED TO MR MORRIS, HKD FOR DIST ADVICE. REFTEL SUGGESTED LNMDAN 1195 PEHPAN 7917
CONF ENTIAL
RR FL
N
FM PEKIN TO FCOLN
190831Z MAY
GRS 129
CONFIDENTIAL
FM PEKING
TO ROUTINE FCO
TELNO 685
OF 190831Z MAY 93
INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
PERSONAL FOR MORRIS, HKD
FCO TELNO 456 TO HONG KONG AND HONG KONG TELNO 774: HMOCS
1.
WHATEVER MINISTERS ULTIMATELY DECIDE TO DO ABOUT HONG KONG HMOCS, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE CHINESE WILL BE AWKWARD. FROM THIS POINT OF VIEW THE MORE WE CAN DEMONSTRATE THAT THE ARRANGEMENTS ARE IDENTICAL TO THOSE MADE IN OTHER TERRITORIES, (EXCEPT OF COURSE THAT THE SCHEME WILL NOT BE HONG KONG-FUNDED) THE EASIER IT WILL BE TO RESIST THEIR MEDDLING: WE CAN THEN ARGUE THAT OUR HANDS ARE TIED BY PAST PRACTICE AND PROMISES. BUT THIS ARGUMENT WOULD CARRY LITTLE WEIGHT IF THE HMOCS ASSOCIATION WERE LOUDLY CAMPAIGNING AGAINST THE PROPOSED ARRANGEMENTS AS A BREACH OF FAITH ETC.
MCLEAN
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PEHPAN 7917