what it will achieve. This is not quite the same as saying that Hong Kong cannot afford it. Incidentally do you see any objection to selected whitehall Departments (Treasury, FCO and CGD) seeing the useful summary paper TAC/70 enclosed with your letter of 4 November to Ken Price provided the source is protected? Perhaps you have heard by now whether the Committee has discussed the paper and if so what the outcome was.
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General.
make every allowance for the fact that Haddon Cave must continue to speak with circumspection in the next few months. On the whole we think our decision to express our concern to him frankly at this formative stage in his thinking was the right one and could pay dividends when he is freer to act. Meanwhile I am discussing with the FCO how best we can reply to your suggestion of an out and out political approach on these commercial problems. The Colony's delegated authority over external commercial policy which we are in the course of enlarging, may make this a tricky issue. Meanwhile we sympathise with the frustrations you have evidently been experiencing. I think the best service you can render is to keep your ear close to the ground for any indication of movement on the part of the Hong Kong Government's thinking; we shall be asked to advise FOCI shortly about the timing and objectives of another visit which they say they are thinking of organising in the New Year.
A F Toms
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