TNAG-0389-FCO40-435-Visit-of-trade-mission-of-the-London-Chamber-of-Commerce-and-1973 — Page 24

CONFIDENTIAL

7. In the longer term I believe we should aim to deal with

points of friction quickly as they arise and before they have

become questions of public debate and conflict in Hong Kong. Again

this requires cooperation with the Hong Kong Government at the

personal level.

8.

Mr Aston's solutions would work against this policy. I believe

we should not adopt them unless all else fails. If this means that

in public in the meantime the British case is under represented in Hong Kong,

Lin

I believe this is the necessary consequence of supporting the

Governor whom we have appointed.

w/n

9.

I submit a draft interim reply to Sir Patrick Reilly

accordingly.

14 November 1973

CC

Mr Wilford

Chief Clerk

Mr Reddaway/GIFD Mr Marshall Mr Lamb/PPD FED

дез

A C Stuart

Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept.

L

Chief Clerk

1. We discussed the draft which Mr Stuart submitted with

his minute of 14 November in reply to Sir Patrick Reilly's comments on Hong Kong. You thought that it went rather too

far in the direction of supporting the Governor rather than Mr Aston and that this might be avoided if it could be shortened somewhat. In the light of our conversation I have tried my

hand at a revised draft and would be grateful to know whether

you think that this would meet the case better.

21 November 1973

CONFIDENTIAL

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