TNAG-0331-FCO40-367-Visits-of-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Af-1972 — Page 25

CYPHER/CAT A

FM HONG KONG 228453Z

CONFIDENTIAL

in

Cr6/548/1

HKK

TO PRIORITY FCO TELNO 73 OF 22 JANUARY.

M.I.P.T.

FOR WILFORD

SEVERAL OF THE MORE EXPERIENCED MEMBERS OF THE TEXTILE ADVISORY BOARD WERE STILL AWAY, AND THE BOARD WAS SOMEWHAT DOMINATED BY GORDON'S BLUSTER. A FULL BOARD COULD NOT BE ASSEMBLED FOR

ANOTHER WEEK OR 10 DAYS.

2. BUT AS I SEE IT THE BASIC DIFFICULTY IS NOT SO MUCH PERSONALITIES AS THE INADEQUACY OF THE DTI OFFER. WHILE I APPLAUD HADDON-CAVE'S PUBLIC SPIRITED ATTEMPT, FOR THE SAKE OF PEACE, TO SELL IT TO THE DELEGATION, THIS DOES NOT ALTER THE FACT OF ITS INADEQUACY.

3. ONCE THE FULL BOARD IS AVAILABLE THERE IS A FAIR CHANCE THAT THE MATTER COULD BE DISPOSED OF IF THE DTI WERE PREPARED TO GO HALF WAY TO THE POSITION SET OUT IN MY IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING TELEGRAM, BUT LITTLE UNLESS THEY DO.

4. IF YOU CAN LET ME HAVE AN IMPROVED OFFER WITHIN A WEEK

THERE WOULD STILL BE TIME TO GO BACK TO THE BOARD AND GET THIS SETTLED BEFORE THE S OF S VISIT.PENDING OUR RESPONSE NO DEFINITIVE

ACTION WILL BE TAKEN IN EX-CO.

FCO PASS COPY TO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON.

MACLEHOSE

FILES

HKD

COMMOD D

23

PS TO MR ROYLE

MR BOTTOMLEY SIR L MCNDON- MR WILFORD MR KEEBLE ·

COPIES TO:

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE,

54 PALL MALL, SW1

CONFIDENTIAL