CYPHER/CAT A
CONFIDENTIAL
TOP COPY
TO HONG KONG
FLASH FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELEGRAM NUMBER 242
CONFIDENTIAL.
XV
JAKIL 14/8
16 APRIL 1969. (HKD)
YOUR TELEGRAMS NO 286 AND 297.
HONG KONG POLICE AND AUXILIARY POLICE FORCES.
ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE MADE BY THE PRIME MINISTER AT 1539 HOURS TOMORROW 17 APRIL IN REPLY TO FOLLOWING PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION: QUOTE LIEUTENANT COMMANDER MAYDON: TO ASK THE PRIME MINISTER IF HE WILL CONSIDER WHETHER THE HONG KONG POLICE FORCE SHOULD BE ACCORDED SOME MARK OF DISTINCTION IN RECOGNITION OF THE LOYAL AND OUTSTANDING SERVICES RENDERED BY THE FORCE OVER THE YEARS? UNQUOTE.
2. FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF PROPOSED REPLY AS SUBMITTED TO THE PRIME MINISTER:
QUOTE I AM MOST GRATEFUL TO THE HONOURABLE MEMBER FOR RAISING THIS MATTER. I AM GLAD TO BE ABLE TO INFORM THE HOUSE THAT HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN HAS BEEN GRACIOUSLY PLEASED TO ACCORD THE TITLE QUOTE ROYAL UNQUOTE TO THE HONG KONG POLICE AND AUXILIARY POLICE FORCES. IN ADDITION, HER ROYAL HIGHNESS, PRINCESS ALEXANDRA, HAS CONSENTED TO ACCEPT, IN AN HONORARY CAPACITY, THE APPOINTMENT OF COMMANDANT GENERAL OF THE TWO FORCES. UNQUOTE.
WE DO NOT YET KNOW WHETHER REPLY AS SUBMITTED WILL BE APPROVED WITH- OUT CHANGE, BUT YOU MAY MAKE SIMULTANEOUS ANNOUNCEMENT IN HONG KONG GIVING ESSENTIAL INFORMATION.
3. IT IS NOT PROPOSED TO DEAL WITH THE GRANADA TELEVISION FILM BY ARRANGED SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION, SINCE IT IS THOUGHT THAT DEL I BER- ATELY TO REVIVE THE MATTER AFTER A LAPSE OF A MONTH MIGHT ONLY PROVOKE INTEREST AND CONTROVERSY.. HOWEVER, THE PRIME MINISTER HAS BEEN FULLY BRIEFED IN CASE THE MATTER IS RAISED INDEPENDENTLY. 4. FOR SAME REASON WE DO NOT FAVOUR A LETTER TO THE QUOTE TIMES UNQUOTE. WE AGREE THAT YOU SHOULD WRITE TO LORD AYLESTONE AND ARE CONSIDERING A COMPLEMENTARY APPROACH TO HIM OURSELVES.
STEWART.
FILES
H.K.D.
F.E.D.
I.P.D.
O.P.A.
I.A.D.
I.R.D.
NEWS DEPT.
IR. MORETON.
P.U.S.D.
SIR A.GALSWORTHY
CONFIDENTIAL
LART
REF.
་ ང་ 4647
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