TNAG-0042-FCO40-78-Future-Sovereignty-of-Hong-Kong-Defence-Review-Working-Party-1967 — Page 187

1

WHITEHALL 5422

TOP SECRET

Ref: B01838

CABINET OFFICE

LONDON S.W.r

27th July 1967

(59)

Dew Henry,

Hong Kong

Thank you for your letter of yesterday. Whatever the difference of view in the Working Party on the main point at issue, I would certainly join with you in hoping that the Planning Team could consider whether there are any tactics open to us to improve the orderliness of withdrawal through negotiation with the Chinese authorities.

It would not, I think, be appropriate for the Planning Team to consider the likelihood of the Chinese Government accepting any proposals on our part, since I doubt if their members will be qualified to do so, but I would think it right that they should consider what, if any, proposals we might reasonably put forward to the end you propose, in the light of their study of the problems of evacuation.

If the other members of the Working Party agree, I suggest that the Planning Team be instructed accordingly (on the assumption that OPD tomorrow agrees that the study should be carried out).

yours.

I am sending copies of this letter to those who had copies of

Your

Philif

H. L. Jenkyns, Esq., Department of Economic Affairs.

(P. ROGERS)