TNAG-0170-FCO40-206-British-Trade-Commissioner-1969 — Page 144

CYPHER/CAT A

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PRIORITY HONG KONG

CONFIDENTIAL

TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

یار

21 JANUARY, 1969

+

TELEGRAM NO 62

CONFIDENTIAL

ADDRESSED FCO AS MYTEL NO. 62 OF 21ST JANUARY.

FOR GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT FROM ROUNTHWAITE.

BRITISH RELATIONS WITH HONG KONG.

THE FRENCH OFFER OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE HONG KONG

CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL PROJECT, OUR APPARENT PROCRASTINATION

OVER THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S REQUEST FOR A LOAN TO EXTEND

THE RUNWAY AT KAI TAK AIRPORT AND MALAYSIA'S RECENT REQUEST

FOR FRENCH FIGHTER PLANES, ARE COMBINING TO PUT BRITAIN IN A

VERY POOR LIGHT HERE.

2. SINCE DEVALUATION OUR STOCK IN HONG KONG HAS NOT BEEN

£

HIGH. THE MATTERS MENTIONED ABOVE HAVE LOWERED IT STILL FURTHER.

I UNDERSTAND THAT ONE OF THE MAJOR PURPOSES OF

MY APPOINTMENT HERE WAS TO ACT AS SPOKESMAN ON MAJOR TOPICS

CONCERNING BRITAIN'S RELATIONS WITH HONG KONG. SINCE MY

ARRIVAL ALMOST FOUR MONTHS AGO, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY BRIEF

ON THESE MATTERS. ON THE POINT OF THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL,

A MATTER OF MAJOR POLITICAL IMPORTANCE, REQUESTS FOR BRIEFING

HAVE GONE UNHEEDED. THE LATEST WAS CONTAINED IN THE PRINCIPAL

TRADE COMMISSIONER'S TELEGRAM CREDA 4 OF JANUARY 18 ADDRESSED

TO BOT.

3. I NOW SEEK YOUR URGENT ASSISTANCE TO OBTAIN TELEGRAPHIC BRIEFING

FOR ME ON PRESENT SITUATION CONCERNING CROSS-HARBOUR TUNNEL

PROJECT AND LOAN FOR AIRPORT RUNWAY EXTENSION. RECENT VISITS BY

CONSERVATIVE M.P.S (WHO HAVE NOT HESITATED TO GIVE PUBLIC ASSURANCES

LAST

REF."

REX:

1 (19)

CONFIDENTIAL

/OF THEIR SUPPORT