TNAG-0479-FCO40-544-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 198

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SECRET

Would you wish us to send a formal message to the Hong Kong Government indicating the probable time of consultations with them, and would you want a public indication at that stage of their likely timing?

4.

Officials will be reporting to OPD on these matters on 18 October. Grateful for your urgent comments on the proposed level of forces described in para. 1 above and for your comments on the points in para. 2 above. If you can let us have these by 1800 GMT on 16 October at the latest, in preparation for a meeting of the Permanent Under-Secretaries' Steering Committee the next day, so much the better.

There is no objection to you discussing all this with CBFHK on a personal basis.

5.

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