SECRET
PRIORITY
CYPHER CAT 'A'
CHKK 56775
GPS 496A
RECEIVED IN
REGISTRY No. 50
263
FM FCO 031720Z
SECRET
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG TELNO 674 OF 3 SEPTEMBER
DEFENCE COSTS: YOUR TELNO 796
፡
:
1. MP RODGERS HAS ASKED US TO PASS YOU THE FOLLOWING PERSONAL MESSAGE:
1/
(243
BEGINS:
264
1. 1. HAVE SEEN YOUR TELEGRAM 796 AND AM MOST GRATEFUL FOR YOUR
ADVICE.
2. 1 MUST HOWEVER MAKE IT PLAIN THAT IN VIEW OF PRESSURES ON THE UK DEFENCE BUDGET, HMG ATTACHES GREAT IMPORTANCE TO A SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED CONTRIBUTION FROM HONG KONG. I APPRECIATE THE DIFFICULTY
THIS POSES FOR YOU.
3. I PLAN, SUBJECT TO YOUR VIEWS, TO ARRIVE IN HONG KONG ON MONDAY
6 OCTOBER, BY SCHEDULED RAF FLIGHT. I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENCE -
NEGOTIATIONS THE FOLLOWING DAY WITH SOME FORM OF PLENARY SESSION AT WHICH I CAN FULLY EXPLAIN HMG'S POSITION TO THE UNOFFICIAL
MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT BEFORE WE GET DOWN
*
TO THE DETAILED DISCUSSIONS. I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD LET ME KNOW WHAT FORM YOU SEE THE PLENARY SESSION TAKING, SO THAT I CAN PREPARE MY APPROACH: AND CONFIRM THAT THE DETAILED DISCUSSIONS WILL, AS I ASSUME, INVOLVE OUR TWO SELVES WITH OUR ADVISERS.
I WOULD HOPE THAT WITH GOODWILL AND UNDERSTANDING ON BOTH SIDES WE COULD CONCLUDE NEGOTIATIONS IN TIME FOR ME TO LEAVE THE FOLLOWING SATURDAY, 11 OCTOBER.
4. I HOPE THE ABOVE ARRANGEMENTS WILL SUIT: AND I LOOK FORWARD
TO SEEING YOU AGAIN.
ENDS
CALLAGHAN
FILES
HKICO (3)
DEFENCE D
SWPD
PS
PS/LD GORONWY ROBERTS
SIR D WATSON
MR LARMOUR MR SYKES MR THOMSON MR MALE
COPIES TO:
MR WARD DS6 MR HANSFORD MR BRYARS MF AGGLETON
SECRET
MOD
TREASURY
CABINET OFFICE PSA DO E
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