JUERMENT HOUSE HONG KONG.
FRI 03 DEC 98 09:59
PG.03
CONFIDENTIAL
similar invitation to the sovereign power.
As you
I should also say, for completeness, that there were one or two ruffled feathers here following the last-minute exchanges about a UK observer. Roy Ramm was of course very welcome and, I gather, had a lot of useful comments on the police operational handling of the exercise. Those concerned await his report with interest, and possibly some trepidation. But some of the messages from SCD to Security Branch were construed in some quarters here as slightly condescending (particularly on who should pay for Ramm's visit). know, the PA's Office fights a constant battle on many fronts to try to ensure that Policy Branches here keep us and the FCO in touch with the international aspects of developments in their own parishes. Having re-read the correspondence, it is clear that in this case there was no objective foundation for the conclusions some drew from SCD's messages. But even so, conclusions of this kind are not all that conducive to our wider efforts.
I hope this helps to clear the air. We will of course continue to keep a watchful eye open for any other signs of plans being made here without necessary consultation. sorry that, in this case, we were not ourselves kept sufficiently in the picture to prevent this.
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Yous
von
(John Ashton)
Deputy Political Adviser
CONFIDENTIAL