TNAG-0476-FCO40-541-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 158

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GRS 111

CYPHER/CAT A

FM F C O 061590Z

SECRET

SECRET

RTOV.51

-4974

AKK 1019

M

ོ

SA

TO ROUTINE HONG KONG TELNO. 425 OF 6 MAY 1974.

1.

FOLLOWING PERSONAL. FOR GOVERNOR.

DEFENCE REVIEW.

YOU WILL WISH TO KNOW THAT THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR DEFENCE, MR. RODGERS, INTENDS SHORTLY TO VISIT THE FIVE POWER CAPITALS FOR CONSULTATIONS AS FORESHADOWED IN THE DEFENCE SECRETARY'S STATEMENT OF 21 MARCH. AN ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE MADE WHEN DATES HAVE BEEN AGREED.

2,

THE MINISTER OF STATE DOES NOT PROPOSE TO VISIT HONG KONG, IT WAS CONSIDERED THAT FOR HIM TO VISIT THE COLONY WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO WOULD BE MORE LIKELY TO LEAD TO SPECULATION THAN TO REASSURE.

3.

AMONGST THE SUBJECTS WHICH WE SHALL CERTAINLY WISH TO DISCUSS WITH YOU WHEN YOU ARE HERE IN JUNE IS THE DEFENCE REVIEW.

CALLAGHAN

FILES

SWPD

HK TOD

DEFENCE D

PS/LORD GORONWY ROBERTS

MR WILFORD

MR YOUDE

MR THOMSON

MOD INTERNAL

SECRET