CONFIDENTIAL
-2~
4.
Our view throughout 1968 was that this was a commercial undertaking which had been adjudged by commercial standards. You have made it clear from time to time that F.C.O. have not wished that political considerations should enter into our examination of this scheme. Our attempts to make it clear that we were adjuding the thing commercially have been widely misinterpreted in Hong Kong in circumstances in which Departments in Whitehall have taken up a determinedly neutral position. I do not complain about this but I think that if circumstances do arise in which it becomes necessary publicly to defend ourselves we in E.C.G.D. shall not hesitate to do so on not very different lines from those propounded by Hannam in his telegram. We believe the French may very well wish to take this contract and if they do political considerations will play a major part in their achieving this. As far as we have been concerned, the political considerations in all this have confused the issue and certainly we have obtained no support from any political relationship which this country might have with Hong Kong. Such a relationship has only served to confuse the force of whatever commercial decision we have taken, for good or ill.
5. I agree that there is no purpose to be served at the present time in promoting a P.Q. as suggested by Hannam. I would not, however, wish my agreement to imply that I agreed entirely with the arguments expressed in your letter of 7th March for the reasons given above.
Jann
Flatlands
(K. W. Cotterill)
CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.