TNAG-0037-FCO40-73-Effort-to-improve-relations-with-Hong-Kong-1968 — Page 54

#

PRIVATE AND SECRET

I confess

with mine and was the one which you and I agreed. that I am a bit disturbed to find that the original agreed note has now been modified to include something which Lord Shepherd did not say I am sure that the Minister of State will react sharply if I show him the note as it now

stands.

I recognise of course that it was ultimately agreed that but this was the reduction should take place in five stages; certainly not envisaged when the matter was discussed on Saturday, 14 October, and it is important to get.the record straight. May I suggest that we revert to the original note, as agreed by both of us, which was in my view a true record of the discussion?

I think the Secretariat will wish to have a record of the notes which I took of other matters. Two copies of each are enclosed. There are two points which I should like you to note. In regard to the note of the meeting with the Association of European Civil Servants, we are looking at Mr. Davies' request that representatives of the Association should be allowed to meet the interdepartmental-committee on the Overseas Civil Service. We will reply to this, through the Governor, as soon as possible. The second point concerns the last sentence of the note of the meeting with the Chinese Civil Servants. Could you let us have your comments on the Associations' representations so that we have the material with which to reply, through the usual channels, of course.

(C. II. Godden) Private Secretary

PRIVATE AND SECRET