TNAG-0479-FCO40-544-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 92

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TO IMMEDIATE HONG TELNO 962 OF 6 NOVEMBER INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING. YOUR TELNO 1146: PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION ON HONG KONG.

FROM STUART.

1. IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHAT EMERGES IN ANSWER TO SUPPLEMENTARIES. BUT THE FEELING HERE, WHICH THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS NOW ENDORSED, WAS THAT WHILE THE DRAFT ANSWER, WHICH WE HAD AMENDED AS YOU NOW SUGGEST, WAS LOGICALLY DEFENSIBLE, IT WAS OPEN TO MISUNDERSTANDING. IF THE DEFENCE REVIEW DID LEAD TO ANY CHANGES, THERE MIGHT BE ACCUSATIONS OF HAVING MISLED THE HOUSE. NOR COULD WE PROVIDE AN ANSWER WHICH WOULD ACCURATELY REFLECT THE DEFENCE REVIEW, BOTH BECAUSE THIS IS NOT COMPLETE, AND BECAUSE EVEN IF WE COULD IT WOULD PRE-EMPT THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE REVIEW ITSELF. HENCE THE PROPOSED FORMULA WHICH WE AGREE DOES NOT DIRECTLY ANSWER THE QUESTION

CALLAGHAN

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PS TO MISS LESTOR

PS TO LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS

SIR D WATSON

MR MALE

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